Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida Atlantic
HERD FALLS 17-3 IN SEVEN INNINGS
4/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-The Thundering Herd baseball team fell 17-3 in seven innings to FAU at Appalachian Power Park Sunday. 12 walks and three hit batters for Marshall's pitching staff was too much to overcome as the team continues to try and fill the void left by injuries to starting pitchers Wade Martin and Will Ray.
The loss puts the Herd under .500 for the first time this season at 11-12 (1-8 C-USA). FAU improved to 20-8 (6-3 C-USA).
Starting pitcher Chris Fryer picked up the loss in the first start of his young career and is now 0-1. The freshman pitched three innings allowing four hits, four runs (four earned), and walking four with no strikeouts. Eight different pitchers were on the mound for Marshall Sunday.
FAU's starting pitcher Mike Ruff picked up his first win of the season to move to 1-0. Ruff pitched four innings allowing three hits, one run (earned), and walking two with six strikeouts.
Shane Hanon led the way for Marshall offensively with two hits, an RBI, and a run in three at-bats. Will Ray, now playing first base due to an injury to his pitching arm, had two hits and two RBIs.
FAU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Herd answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Ray that scored Hanon from second to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Owls added two more runs in the third inning before an offensive explosion in the fifth resulted in five runs and a 9-1 lead.
Five more runs in the top of the fifth expanded the lead to 14-1 FAU.
Marshall mustered two runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double by Hanon that scored Peter Hutzal from second. Ray scored Hanon on another RBI single shorty after to make the score 14-3.
FAU added another run in the sixth and two more in the seventh before the run rule kicked in and the game was called with a final score of 17-3 Owls.
The Herd finished the game with three runs off of six hits with three errors. FAU had 17 runs on 12 hits with one error.
Up next Marshall is on the road or one game Tuesday against Morehead State before traveling back to Huntington to take on the Eagles at home Wednesday.
