Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
HERD FALLS IN EXTRA INNINGS 3-1
3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-The Thundering Herd baseball team fell in extra innings to the UAB Blazers Saturday 3-1 at Appalachian Power Park as its rally bid fell short after a ninth inning comeback.
The loss moved Marshall to 10-6 on the season and is also the first series loss after four consecutive series wins for the Herd. UAB improved to 8-9 on the season.
Will Ray, who came in late in the game late as a pinch hitter, led the way for Marshall offensively with one hit and the team's lone run. Shane Hanon, who didn't start Saturday due to injury, also made an impact despite a bad ankle. Hanon was able to get the Herd's lone RBI in just one at bat in the ninth inning and was immediately replaced with a pinch runner after reaching base. Freshman Jaren Lovely got the first hit of his career in the eleventh inning to keep the team's comeback hopes alive.
UAB's Carson Jones earned his second win of the series to move to 2-1 on the season. Jones pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out three with one walk. Marshall's Matt Reed picked up his first loss of the season and is now 0-1. Reed pitched one inning allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out one with two walks in his first game back from injury. Starting pitcher Brad O'Connor had another strong performance pitching seven innings and allowing five hits, one run (earned), and striking out eight batters to just two walks.
The first run of the game came after four innings of scoreless baseball as UAB jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
That lead would hold until the ninth inning when Ray scored on an RBI single by Hanon that tied the game at one run apiece.
That tie lasted 1 1/2 innings until UAB put two runs on the board in the top of the eleventh that would be the game winners.
Marshall finished the day with one run off of eight hits with two errors. UAB had three runs off five hits with no errors.
The Herd will look to avoid the sweep Sunday at 12 p.m. in the series finale.
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