Three Herd Homers Power Baseball to Series Split at No. 14 LA Tech

Box Score

RUSTON, La. – A pair of homers by Peter Hutzal, a home run by Travis Sankovich and a solid outing from the Herd pitching staff, powered the Marshall University baseball team (8-24, 4-16 C-USA) to a 7-2 win over the No. 14 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (28-11, 14-6 C-USA) on Sunday afternoon in Ruston, La. The win helped the Herd to a series split.

John Cheatwood recorded his first win of the season.

"We had a chance to win all four, but it was great to see us comeback and win these last two," head coach Jeff Waggoner said after the win on Sunday. "It's been a tough season with COVID-19. However, it was great to see these guys bounce back against one of the best teams in the country."

Herd starter Zac Addkison threw three-scoreless frames to begin the game giving up just two hits and two walks with a strikeout in his outing.

Marshall got the scoring started as third baseman Peter Hutzal blasted a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center field for a two-out solo homer.

Reliever John Cheatwood came on from the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth and threw a scoreless frame.

Shortstop Geordon Blanton drew a walk to start out the top of the fifth and proceeded to steal second base. Then with one out, second baseman Travis Sankovich nailed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right for a two-run dinger to give the Herd a 3-0 lead.

However, LA Tech answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut MU's advantage to 3-2.

Hutzal continued his hot-hitting afternoon with his second two-out homer the contest to put Marshall up 4-2. It was his fifth long ball of the season.

Relief pitcher Cody Sharp threw scoreless sixth and seventh frames, including striking out the side in the seventh, to keep Marshall up 4-2.

The Herd added an insurance run in the top of the eighth as left fielder Cyrus Grimes led off with a double to left center. Designated hitter Kyle Schaefer followed with a one-out double to right giving Marshall a 5-2 lead.

Reliever Josh Zeboskey saw what Sharp did and answered with a three-strikeout inning of his own in the bottom of the eighth.

Right fielder Jordon Billups led off the ninth with a walk and Sankovich followed with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by centerfielder Luke Edwards, the Bulldogs intentionally walked Grimes to load the bases with one out. Catcher Ryan Leitch was then hit-by-a-pitch, scoring Billups to make it 6-2 MU.

Schaefer then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Sankovich, to put the advantage up to 7-2.

Relief pitcher D'Andre Knight came on from the bullpen and finished the game for the Herd facing the minimum in the bottom of the ninth for the series split.

UP NEXT
Marshall returns to field on Apr. 30 for a four-game series at the Kennedy Center against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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

To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
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Three Herd Homers Power Baseball to Series Split at No. 14 LA Tech

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Team Stats

Peter Hutzal

Travis Sankovich

Luke Edwards

Cyrus Grimes

Players Mentioned

Zac Addkison

Jordon Billups

Geordon Blanton

John Cheatwood

Luke Edwards

Cyrus Grimes

Peter Hutzal

D'Andre Knight

Ryan Leitch

Travis Sankovich

Kyle Schaefer

Cody Sharp

Josh Zeboskey

Players Mentioned

Zac Addkison

Jordon Billups

Geordon Blanton

John Cheatwood

Luke Edwards

Cyrus Grimes

Peter Hutzal

D'Andre Knight

Ryan Leitch

Travis Sankovich

Kyle Schaefer

Cody Sharp

Josh Zeboskey

Marshall University Athletics