Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
@HerdBaseball's Rally Falls Short at UAB
4/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Marshall baseball team rallied with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings but couldn't complete the comeback in Friday's 4-3 loss to UAB in game one of the three-game series at Young Memorial Field.
The Thundering Herd falls to 13-15 (4-6 Conference USA), while the Blazers improve to 16-14 (5-5 C-USA). Sophomore left-handed pitcher Joshua Shapiro (1-3) was credited with the loss for the Herd. UAB's Thomas Lowery (4-1) earned the win and Carson Jones earned his fourth save.
UAB struck first in bottom half of the first inning. Marshall's Shapiro allowed back-to-back walks to begin the frame. The UAB runners moved up to second and third on a Carter Pharis ground out to first. Pierce Ressmeyer drove in Price Visintainer in the ensuing at-bat with a sacrifice fly to shallow right field.
The Blazers tacked on a run by benefitting from a walk and a pair of Herd errors in the second inning. Luke Eigsti worked a one-out walk. He advanced to second on a fielding error by Tyler Ratliff on a grounder from Riley McCown. In the next at-bat, Tyler Tolbert hit into a fielder's choice, but an error on Will Ray allowed Eigsti to score.
UAB pushed its lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shapiro walked Tolbert on four pitches with two outs. Tolbert went on to steal second during the next at-bat. Tolbert picked up his second stolen base of the frame by taking third on a Visintainer walk. Brewer Hicklen brought Tolbert home on a single through the left side.
The Blazers added what would be the game-winning run in the sixth inning. With runners on the corners, Hicklen hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored McCown.
The Marshall offense found a much needed spark in the seventh inning by scoring two runs. Shane Hanon got things started with a single to right field. Tommy Lane followed with a walk. Reynaldo Pastrana drove in Hanon with a double to left center field. After a UAB pitching change, Garrastazu grounded out to the shortstop but scored Lane from third.
Marshall cut its deficit to one run in the top of the eighth inning. The Herd had runners on the corners with one out, as Lane singled to left field that allowed Ray to touch home. Lane was picked off at first to end the Marshall threat.
The Thundering Herd was led at the plate by Lane, Hanon, Pastrana and Garrastazu. Lane recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Pastrana was 1-for-4 with a RBI double. Hanon was 1-for-4 and extended his hit streak to 12 games, tying the longest hit streak for the Herd this season. Garrastazu was 1-for-4 and now has reached base safely in 16 straight games.
Shapiro pitched five innings and allowed three runs on two hits. The Columbus, Ohio native had one strikeout with eight walks. Freshman Jacob Bradley came in relief for Shapiro in the sixth inning. Bradley tossed three innings and allowed one run on four hits.
Marshall and UAB are scheduled to play game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. (ET).
