Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, April 24
Ruston, La.
12:00 PM EST/11:00 AM CST
Marshall University
6-24, 2-16
4
at
11
Louisiana Tech
28-9, 14-4
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2
3
4
5
6
7
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H
E
Marshall
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
4
9
0
Louisiana Tech
2
0
0
0
6
3
X
11
13
0
Photo by: Jack Kelly
Nine-Run Seventh Inning in Game Two Propels Baseball to Doubleheader Split at No. 14 LA Tech
4/24/2021 7:13:00 PM | Baseball
GM 1: Box Score
GM 2: Box Score
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RUSTON, La. – The Marshall University baseball team (7-24, 3-16 C-USA) used a nine-run top of the seventh in game two to split a doubleheader with the No. 14 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (28-10, 14-5 C-USA) on Saturday in Ruston, La.
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Game 1
The Bulldogs started off scoring a pair of runs off Herd starting pitcher Raymond Pacella in the bottom of the first.
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Marshall got its bats going immediately the next half inning as catcher Ryan Leitch led off with his team-high seventh homer of the season. Then with one out, first baseman Zach Inskeep singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, right fielder Jordon Billups smoked a ball to left for a double, scoring Inskeep to tie the game, 2-2.
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In the bottom of the third, after designated hitter Cyrus Grimes drew a one-out walk, center fielder Luke Edwards hit his third home run of the season over the left-field fence to put MU up 4-2.
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Pacella then settled in throwing three consecutive scoreless innings in the second, third and fourth.
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However, LA Tech struck for six runs in the fifth and three in the sixth as the Herd fell 11-4 in game one.
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Game 2
MU starting pitcher Patrick Copen gave up a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the first, but got out of the inning unscathed.
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After giving up a run in the bottom of the second, Copen came back and retired three Bulldogs in a row after hitting a batter to begin the bottom of third.
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In the top of the fourth, Billups reached on an error and advanced to second on a balk. Shortstop Geordon Blanton then reached on a one-out walk. Second baseman Travis Sankovich followed with a double down the left-field line, scoring Billups to tie the game, 1-1. Center fielder Josh Pigozzo then reached on an error scoring Blanton to give Marshall a 2-1 lead.
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Copen and reliever Michael Guerrero combined to throw a perfect bottom of the fourth to keep the Herd on top 2-1.
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LA Tech tied the game in the fifth with a run and used a two-out, three-run home run by Taylor Young to go up 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
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Marshall wasn't ready to go down without a fight. It started the top of the seventh with three consecutive hits, a double by Edwards, single by Grimes and a RBI-single by Leitch cut the deficit to 3-1.
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Inskeep reached on a fielder's choice and a walk issued to Billups loaded the bases with one out for designated hitter Kyle Schaefer. Schaefer battled to a 3-1 count and smashed the ball over the wall in right for a grand slam, his fifth homer of the season, to put Marshall on top 7-5.
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After Blanton drew a walk and Sankovich singled, Pigozzo tripled down the left-field line and then scored on a wild pitch to put MU up 10-5.
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Edwards doubled for the second time in the inning and then Grimes struck out, but the pitch was dropped, he reached on a throwing error by the catcher and Edwards scored on the play as the Herd led 11-5 after a nine-run top of the seventh.
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Reliever D'Andre Knight threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh to give the Herd the win over No. 14 LA Tech.
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UP NEXT
Marshall looks to split the series on Sunday against No. 14 LA Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
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For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @herdbsb on Instagram.
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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
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GM 2: Box Score
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RUSTON, La. – The Marshall University baseball team (7-24, 3-16 C-USA) used a nine-run top of the seventh in game two to split a doubleheader with the No. 14 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (28-10, 14-5 C-USA) on Saturday in Ruston, La.
Â
Game 1
The Bulldogs started off scoring a pair of runs off Herd starting pitcher Raymond Pacella in the bottom of the first.
Â
Marshall got its bats going immediately the next half inning as catcher Ryan Leitch led off with his team-high seventh homer of the season. Then with one out, first baseman Zach Inskeep singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, right fielder Jordon Billups smoked a ball to left for a double, scoring Inskeep to tie the game, 2-2.
Â
In the bottom of the third, after designated hitter Cyrus Grimes drew a one-out walk, center fielder Luke Edwards hit his third home run of the season over the left-field fence to put MU up 4-2.
Â
Pacella then settled in throwing three consecutive scoreless innings in the second, third and fourth.
Â
However, LA Tech struck for six runs in the fifth and three in the sixth as the Herd fell 11-4 in game one.
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Game 2
MU starting pitcher Patrick Copen gave up a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the first, but got out of the inning unscathed.
Â
After giving up a run in the bottom of the second, Copen came back and retired three Bulldogs in a row after hitting a batter to begin the bottom of third.
Â
In the top of the fourth, Billups reached on an error and advanced to second on a balk. Shortstop Geordon Blanton then reached on a one-out walk. Second baseman Travis Sankovich followed with a double down the left-field line, scoring Billups to tie the game, 1-1. Center fielder Josh Pigozzo then reached on an error scoring Blanton to give Marshall a 2-1 lead.
Â
Copen and reliever Michael Guerrero combined to throw a perfect bottom of the fourth to keep the Herd on top 2-1.
Â
LA Tech tied the game in the fifth with a run and used a two-out, three-run home run by Taylor Young to go up 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Â
Marshall wasn't ready to go down without a fight. It started the top of the seventh with three consecutive hits, a double by Edwards, single by Grimes and a RBI-single by Leitch cut the deficit to 3-1.
Â
Inskeep reached on a fielder's choice and a walk issued to Billups loaded the bases with one out for designated hitter Kyle Schaefer. Schaefer battled to a 3-1 count and smashed the ball over the wall in right for a grand slam, his fifth homer of the season, to put Marshall on top 7-5.
Â
After Blanton drew a walk and Sankovich singled, Pigozzo tripled down the left-field line and then scored on a wild pitch to put MU up 10-5.
Â
Edwards doubled for the second time in the inning and then Grimes struck out, but the pitch was dropped, he reached on a throwing error by the catcher and Edwards scored on the play as the Herd led 11-5 after a nine-run top of the seventh.
Â
Reliever D'Andre Knight threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh to give the Herd the win over No. 14 LA Tech.
Â
UP NEXT
Marshall looks to split the series on Sunday against No. 14 LA Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
Â
For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @herdbsb on Instagram.
Â
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Whorff (7-1)
L: Pacella, Raymond (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Billups, Jordon 1
HR: Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1
RBI: Edwards, Luke 2 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Billups, Jordon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grimes, Cyrus 1 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Inskeep, Zach 1
SB: Leitch, Ryan 1
Batting:
2B: Corona 1
3B: Wells 1
HR: Bates 1 ; Brantley 1
RBI: Bates 2 ; McConnell 2 ; Corona 2 ; Matulia 1 ; Brantley 3
SH: Myers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Young 1 ; Wells 2 ; Bates 2 ; Garcia 2 ; McConnell 1 ; Corona 1 ; Matulia 1 ; Brantley 1
HBP: Corona 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
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