Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Elon
Herd take home another extra innings victory to end Elon series
2/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ELON, N.C.-The Herd pulled out another game three victory to win a series against Elon University Sunday, Marshall came storming back in extra innings to pull off the 11-7 victory on the road.
It was Marshall's second extra innings game of the week, and like the first, they outlasted Elon for a hard fought victory after falling behind late.
Things were looking up for the Herd early when Reynaldo Pastrana hit a two run bomb over center field, also scoring Raul Cabrera who had singled just before Pastrana was up to bat.
The Herd's lead expanded in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly from Cabrera, who scored Geordon Blanton from third base. Pastrana came in and collected his third RBI in two innings when he singled to the right side to score Zban for the final run of the inning.
In the fourth inning Marshall struck again when Andrew Zban hit a line drive to the first baseman, who couldn't handle the fast approaching ball, allowing Cameron Collett, who was playing in his first collegiate game, to score from third base and expand the lead to 5-0 Marshall.
In the sixth inning the Herd's lead grew by another run when Geordon Blanton scored Will Ray on an RBI single.
It took six innings for Elon to get a base hit with Will Ray striking out six different batters up to that point in another excellent performance for the Sunday starter. Elon ended any hopes of a shutout shortly after their first hit when Elon's Ryne Ogren hit an RBI single to put Elon on the board down 6-1.
In the bottom of the seventh Elon was able to get some consistent offense with the bases loaded. Two walks gave Elon free runs and kept runners in scoring position, where an RBI single scored one more run to pull Elon within two runs at 6-4 as the inning came to a close.
The eighth inning brought more offense from Elon's bats as the bases were loaded early with just one out. An RBI single by Matt Oldham scored two runners from second and third to tie the game at six runs apiece. Another walk with the bases loaded gave Elon the 7-6 lead before the eighth inning came to an end.
Down one run and needing a score, Andrew Zban delivered a leadoff double and was able to score shortly after when Reynaldo Pastrana collected another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left center field.
Neither team was able to get anything going in the tenth inning, but a four run eleventh inning would be all the Herd needed to get the series win.
Raul Cabrera and Reynaldo Pastrana both singled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Tucker Linder moved both runners to second and third, where they would both score on an RBI double by Will Ray. An RBI single by Peter Hutzal scored Ray from second base, and Hutzal would eventually reach home on an error by the third baseman in what became the final run of the game.
The Herd left Elon 2-0 when games went to extra innings.
Marshall finished the series finale with 11 runs off of 16 hits with no errors. Elon had seven runs on eight hits with three errors.
Gordon Cardenas picked up his second win of the season pitching 3.1 innings while striking out four batters and allowing no hits or walks. Will Ray pitched six innings allowing just two hits and one run (earned) with six strikeouts.
Elon's Sean Byrnes was the losing pitcher, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing two hits, two runs (both earned), and walking two batters with no strikeouts.
The win moves Marshall to 4-2 on the season. The Herd will be returning to North Carolina next week to take on Appalachian State in a three game series starting on March 3rd at 3 p.m.
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