Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
20-28-1, 9-16
ODU
32-15, 14-11
ODU Takes Game One from Marshall
5/13/2022 10:19:00 PM | Baseball
Edwards extends on-base streak to 58 games
NORFOLK, Va. – The Marshall University baseball team (20-28-1, 9-16 C-USA) fell in game one of a three-game series in Norfolk, Virginia, to the Old Dominion Monarchs (32-15, 14-11 C-USA), 13-8, on Friday night.
The Herd used a two-out rally to get on the board in the top of the first. Luke Edwards recorded a two-out single up the middle to extend his on-base streak to 58 games. Ryan Leitch followed with his 15th double of the season placing Edwards at third. Jordon Billups then sent the first pitch of his at bat to right to plate both Edwards and Leitch to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
ODU was quick to answer as Andy Garriola hit a two-run homer to tie the game, 2-2, the next half inning.
Starting pitcher Jeffrey Purnell settled in and threw a scoreless bottom of the second. Then in the top of the third, Travis Sankovich led off with a single and two batters later Edwards doubled to put the pair in scoring position with one out. Leitch then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Sankovich as Marshall regained the lead, 3-2. However, the Monarchs tied the game, 3-3, with a run in the bottom half of the frame.
Kyle Schaefer began the fourth inning with a single to right and followed by stealing second. Two batters and two outs later, Geordon Blanton stepped into the batter's box. The senior sent the 1-1 offering over the left-field fence for his second homer of the season seeing MU lead 5-3. The five earned runs scored off ODU starting pitcher Blake Morgan were more than he gave up in his previous 12 appearances, including, 10 starts this season (four).
The Monarch offense tallied five runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth to put the Herd at an 8-5 deficit. Purnell rebounded in the bottom of the fifth as he hurled a 1-2-3 frame.
ODU added a run in the sixth and three in the seventh as it extended its advantage to 12-5.
Billups recorded his third RBI of the contest with a ground out in top of the eighth, but the Monarchs answered with a run in the bottom of the frame seeing the score move to 13-6.
Sankovich and Edwards each had RBI singles in the ninth, but the Herd couldn't overcome the deficit.
Edwards had a season-high four hits in the contest.
UP NEXT
Marshall looks to rebound in game two on Saturday against the ODU. 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blake Morgan (7-0)
L: Purnell, Jeffrey (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1
HR: Blanton, Geordon 1
RBI: Sankovich, Travis 1 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Billups, Jordon 3 ; Blanton, Geordon 2
SF: Leitch, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sankovich, Travis 1 ; Lucio, Christian 1 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Schaefer, Kyle 1 ; Carinci, Daniel 1 ; Blanton, Geordon 2
SB: Lucio, Christian 1 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Schaefer, Kyle 1
Batting:
2B: Andy Garriola 1 ; Robbie Petracci 1 ; Kenny Levari 1 ; Tommy Bell 1
3B: Thomas Wheeler 1
HR: Andy Garriola 1 ; Brock Gagliardi 1 ; Kenny Levari 1
RBI: Thomas Wheeler 1 ; Josh Trujillo 2 ; Matt Coutney 1 ; Andy Garriola 4 ; Brock Gagliardi 1 ; Kenny Levari 2 ; Tommy Bell 2
SF: Thomas Wheeler 1 ; Josh Trujillo 1 ; Matt Coutney 1 ; Andy Garriola 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas Wheeler 2 ; Josh Trujillo 2 ; Andy Garriola 1 ; Brock Gagliardi 1 ; Robbie Petracci 1 ; Dominick Claxton 1 ; Kenny Levari 3 ; Tommy Bell 2
SB: Josh Trujillo 1 ; Matt Coutney 1
CS: Josh Trujillo 1
HBP: Thomas Wheeler 1 ; Josh Trujillo 1 ; Ryan Teschko 1 ; Brock Gagliardi 1 ; Chris Dengler 1
