Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UTSA
HERD FALLS IN WALK-OFF LOSS
3/23/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN ANTONIO, TX-The Thundering Herd baseball team fell to UTSA 4-3 Friday in the series opener at Roadrunner field. The walk off loss was the first Marshall has suffered this season.
The loss put the Herd at 11-7 (1-3 C-USA) on the year. UTSA improved to 9-10 (1-2 C-USA).
Catcher Reynaldo Pastrana led the way offensively for Marshall with three hits, two RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Third baseman Raul Cabrera scored the only other run for the Herd, Second baseman Peter Hutzal came in clutch and was able to give the team the lead in the ninth inning on an RBI double for his lone hit. Shortstop Geordon Blanton had an RBI on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at three runs apiece.
Relief pitcher Gordon Cardenas picked up his first loss of the season to move to 3-1 on the year. Cardenas pitched 1/3 innings allowing one hit, two runs (two earned), while striking out one and walking two. UTSA relief pitcher Palmer Wenzel picked up the win to move to 4-1 on the season. Wenzel pitched one inning allowing two hits, one run (earned), and striking out one batter with no walks.
UTSA capitalized on an error in the bottom of the third to score an unearned run and take the 1-0 lead.
Another run in the fourth inning on an RBI single increased the lead to 2-0.
In the top of the fifth, Pastrana struck on the first at bat of the inning for a solo home run over the Roadrunner's scoreboard in center field to make the score 2-1 UTSA.
In the seventh Cabrera reached on an error, and after a steal, was able to score on a sacrifice fly to center field by Blanton to tie the game 2-2.
In the top of the ninth Marshall took the lead on an RBI double by Hutzal that scored Pastrana from second to make it a 3-2 game.
Two runs in the bottom of the ninth, one a walk with the bases loaded, spelled the end for the Herd as it fell 4-3.
Marshall finished the game with three runs off of four hits and one error. UTSA had four runs off of five hits with one error.
The Herd will be looking for revenge tomorrow when it returns to Roadrunner Field at 3 p.m. for game two.
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