Baseball Takes Game Two Over UTSA in Low Scoring Ballgame

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Herd baseball (24-23, 11-12) battled through a low scoring, pitching duel to take game two, 3-2, over UTSA (22-25, 10-13) on Saturday at the Kennedy Center in Huntington.

"The tone was set by Wade (Martin) coming out and executing what we talked about," 13th-year head coach Jeff Waggoner said after today's win. "Our relievers came in (Philip) Hoffman and (Michael) Guerrero for two, they did a great job. That's a good offensive team. I think the biggest thing today was toughness. We had to turn around after yesterday. We had hitters hitting at 7 am in the indoor. To come out on every pitch by showing a sense of urgency, that's what need to do as a team."

Elvis Peralta, Jr., got the scoring started with a two-out homer to right-center field to put Marshall up 1-0 after the first inning of play.

UTSA's Bryan Arias tied the game with a homer in the top of the third.

Wade Martin exited the pitchers' duel with a no decision after a season-high four innings and six strikeouts giving up just one run two hits.

"The mental side of getting ready for today is the process," Martin said after the win. "On a week-to-week basis knowing that you have a job to do on Saturdays. Whether we start at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m., Saturday is my day. My job is to go out there and pound the strike zone."

In the bottom of the fifth, Geordon Blanton hit a ball that would have been a home run, but was robbed by Ryan Stacy in left to keep the score tied at 1-1.

The Roadrunners took its first lead of the game, 2-1, on a Dylan Rock two-out homer in the top of the sixth off reliever Philip Hoffman.

The Herd recorded leadoff singles by Erik Rodriguez and Shane Hanon in the bottom of the sixth. Peralta then sacrificed the runners into scoring position with a two-strike bunt. After Tucker Linder struck out, UTSA intentionally walked Rey Pastrana to load the bases for Zach Inskeep with two outs. Despite the count going 2-2, Inskeep battled through an 11-pitch at bat to draw a bases loaded walk and tie the game. Raul Cabrera then drew a walk on five pitches to bring Marshall ahead 3-2.

Hoffman responded in the seventh with a six-pitch inning to finish his outing with three innings of work giving up just one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Hoffman's run given up was his first since Apr. 6 at Southern Mississippi in game three of the series.

Michael Guerrero entered the game in the eighth, giving up a walk, but striking out two batters to pitch a scoreless inning.

Guerrero gave up a leadoff walk, but induced the next batter into a 6-4-3 double play. Despite giving up two more walks in the inning, he got the last batter of the game to fly out to Rodriguez in center to end the game.

NOTES
- Peralta's dinger was his team-leading ninth of the season.
- Hoffman is now 3-0 this season.
- Guerrero earned save number five on the year.
- Today was Waggoner's 299th career win.

UP NEXT
Marshall looks to take the series on Sunday with the game time pushed up to 11:30 a.m.

For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @HerdBSB on Instagram.

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---HerdZone.com---

Baseball Takes Game Two Over UTSA in Low Scoring Ballgame

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Team Stats

Shane Hanon

Elvis Peralta Jr.

Erik Rodriguez

Luke Edwards

Players Mentioned

Geordon Blanton

Raul Cabrera

Michael Guerrero

Shane Hanon

Philip Hoffman

Zach Inskeep

Tucker Linder

Wade Martin

Erik Rodriguez

Players Mentioned

Geordon Blanton

Raul Cabrera

Michael Guerrero

Shane Hanon

Philip Hoffman

Zach Inskeep

Tucker Linder

Wade Martin

Erik Rodriguez

Marshall University Athletics