Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, April 23
Bowling Green, Ky.
1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM CT
Marshall University
8
at
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WKU
Photo by: Jack Kelly
Dominate Pitching, Timely Hitting Helps Herd to Game Two Win over WKU
4/23/2022 5:35:00 PM | Baseball
Copen goes six-shutout innings
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Marshall University baseball team (18-21-1, 7-10 C-USA) had a dominate pitching performance in an 8-1 win over the WKU Hilltoppers (13-25, 4-13 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Herd starting pitcher Patrick Copen threw six-scoreless frames and struck out eight while giving up just a hit and three walks to help MU clinch the series. The Marshall staff allowed just two hits in the ballgame.
"We got another great start this weekend from Pat," Herd baseball head coach Jeff Waggoner said of his starter's performance. "We are playing great defense and our situational hitting has been really good. We need to come out ready to go tomorrow and finish the weekend."
Marshall was quick to get on the board in the first. Christian Lucio recorded a one-out double to left center. Then one batter later Kyle Schaefer sent a 1-1 offering to left for a base hit to score Lucio with two outs and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Copen gave up a leadoff single to Matthew Meyer, but caught him stealing and retired the next five batters to maintain his side's 1-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, Geordon Blanton drew a walk to start the inning and proceeded to steal second with one out. Lucio put the ball in play as Hilltopper first baseman Aidan Gilroy made an error, allowing Blanton to score and Lucio to reach second. After Luke Edwards moved Lucio to third on a lineout to center, the Herd second baseman scored on a wild pitch to give it a 3-0 lead.
Marshall continued with its hot bats in the top of the fourth after Copen struck out the side in the bottom of the third. Jordon Billups and Cole Williams each drew walks to start the frame. Daniel Carinci then reached on a fielder's choice seeing Billups forced out at third and Williams moved up to second. Elijah Vogelsong then brought home Williams with a single as Carinci moved up to third and the designated hitter moved up to second on the throw with one out. Blanton followed with a sacrifice bunt to plate Carinci and make it 5-0 Herd.
Copen got into a bit of the jam in the bottom half of the inning by issuing a pair of walks with one out. However, the sophomore struck out the next two Hilltoppers that came to the plate to preserve the 5-0 advantage.
Billups then mashed a 3-2 pitch to left center for his seventh long ball of the season to score Schaefer and Lucio on a three-run blast. Marshall led 8-0 through the top of the fifth.
Copen hit a batter in the fifth and walked another in the sixth, but concluded his outing with scoreless frames in each respective inning.
Nicholas Weyrich came on in relief of Copen to begin the top of the seventh and hurled a 1-2-3 frame. Weyrich got in a jam with a pair of runners in the bottom of the eighth. However, the righty slammed the door shut by striking out Brett Bloomquist to end the inning.
Edwards extended his on-base streak to 48 games as he reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the ninth.
Sam Thompson made his way to mound for the bottom of the inning. He gave up a two-out run, but ended the game with a strikeout to seal the series for Marshall.
Edwards saw a 12-game hit streak come to an end in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Herd looks to sweep the Hilltoppers on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CT.
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.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Marshall University baseball team (18-21-1, 7-10 C-USA) had a dominate pitching performance in an 8-1 win over the WKU Hilltoppers (13-25, 4-13 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Herd starting pitcher Patrick Copen threw six-scoreless frames and struck out eight while giving up just a hit and three walks to help MU clinch the series. The Marshall staff allowed just two hits in the ballgame.
"We got another great start this weekend from Pat," Herd baseball head coach Jeff Waggoner said of his starter's performance. "We are playing great defense and our situational hitting has been really good. We need to come out ready to go tomorrow and finish the weekend."
Marshall was quick to get on the board in the first. Christian Lucio recorded a one-out double to left center. Then one batter later Kyle Schaefer sent a 1-1 offering to left for a base hit to score Lucio with two outs and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Copen gave up a leadoff single to Matthew Meyer, but caught him stealing and retired the next five batters to maintain his side's 1-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, Geordon Blanton drew a walk to start the inning and proceeded to steal second with one out. Lucio put the ball in play as Hilltopper first baseman Aidan Gilroy made an error, allowing Blanton to score and Lucio to reach second. After Luke Edwards moved Lucio to third on a lineout to center, the Herd second baseman scored on a wild pitch to give it a 3-0 lead.
Marshall continued with its hot bats in the top of the fourth after Copen struck out the side in the bottom of the third. Jordon Billups and Cole Williams each drew walks to start the frame. Daniel Carinci then reached on a fielder's choice seeing Billups forced out at third and Williams moved up to second. Elijah Vogelsong then brought home Williams with a single as Carinci moved up to third and the designated hitter moved up to second on the throw with one out. Blanton followed with a sacrifice bunt to plate Carinci and make it 5-0 Herd.
Copen got into a bit of the jam in the bottom half of the inning by issuing a pair of walks with one out. However, the sophomore struck out the next two Hilltoppers that came to the plate to preserve the 5-0 advantage.
Billups then mashed a 3-2 pitch to left center for his seventh long ball of the season to score Schaefer and Lucio on a three-run blast. Marshall led 8-0 through the top of the fifth.
Copen hit a batter in the fifth and walked another in the sixth, but concluded his outing with scoreless frames in each respective inning.
Nicholas Weyrich came on in relief of Copen to begin the top of the seventh and hurled a 1-2-3 frame. Weyrich got in a jam with a pair of runners in the bottom of the eighth. However, the righty slammed the door shut by striking out Brett Bloomquist to end the inning.
Edwards extended his on-base streak to 48 games as he reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the ninth.
Sam Thompson made his way to mound for the bottom of the inning. He gave up a two-out run, but ended the game with a strikeout to seal the series for Marshall.
Edwards saw a 12-game hit streak come to an end in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Herd looks to sweep the Hilltoppers on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CT.
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.
---HerdZone.com---
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