Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
19-22-1, 8-11
Charlotte
25-17, 9-10
49ers Take Series Opener from Herd
4/29/2022 9:55:00 PM | Baseball
Edwards extends on-base streak to 50 games
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University baseball team (19-22-1, 8-11 C-USA) fell in the series opener to the Charlotte 49ers (25-17, 9-10 C-USA), 11-4, on Friday afternoon at the Kennedy Center.
Herd starting pitcher Jeffrey Purnell allowed the first two batters of the game to reach base, but stranded them at first and second as he retired the next three Charlotte hitters he faced, including two with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the first, Christian Lucio drew a one-out walk and proceeded to steal second. Luke Edwards then beat the shift with a single through the right side to score Lucio and make it 1-0 Marshall. The junior reached base for the 50th straight game.
David McCabe hit a three-run double for the 49ers in the top of the second to have the Herd trailing 3-1.
However, Purnell settled in and threw a 1-2-3 top of the third. The senior allowed the first two batters to reach in the top of the fourth and then made way for Chad Heiner to come in from the bullpen. Heiner recorded the first out on a fielder's choice before inducing a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. The sophomore then set Charlotte down in order the next inning.
The 49ers batted through the order in the top of the sixth and added five runs as Marshall trailed 8-1.
Relief pitchers Carter Lyles and Sam Thompson combined to throw scoreless seventh and eighth frames.
Charlotte plated three runs in the top of the ninth, including a two-run homer by McCabe, to take an 11-1 advantage. The Herd plated a pair of runs on a Travis Sankovich triple and another on a double by Drew Steelhammer the next half inning, but couldn't overcome the deficit.
UP NEXT
Marshall closes the series with Charlotte on Saturday as the teams will now play a doubleheader due to impending weather on Sunday. The twin bill is set to begin at noon and be two nine-inning contests.
For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @herdbsb on Instagram.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Spencer Giesting (4-4)
L: Purnell, Jeffrey (5-3)
Batting:
2B: David McCabe 1 ; Jake Cunningham 1
3B: Josh Madole 1
HR: David McCabe 1
RBI: David McCabe 5 ; Jack Dragum 2 ; Josh Madole 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Nate Furman 2 ; David McCabe 2 ; Jack Dragum 1 ; Austin Knight 2 ; Will Butcher 1 ; Kaden Hopson 3
HBP: Kaden Hopson 2
Batting:
2B: Steelhammer, Drew 1
3B: Sankovich, Travis 1
RBI: Sankovich, Travis 2 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Steelhammer, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sankovich, Travis 1 ; Lucio, Christian 1 ; Carinci, Daniel 1 ; Blanton, Geordon 1
SB: Lucio, Christian 1 ; Blanton, Geordon 2
CS: Billups, Jordon 1
HBP: Billups, Jordon 1
PO: Billups, Jordon 1
