Marshall Sweeps Memphis in C-USA Double Dip

Saturday, March 29

Charleston, W. Va

11:00 AM

University of Memphis

11-13, 3-1

Marshall

10-12, 1-3

Memphis

Marshall

Mar 29, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

March 29, 2008

Box Score

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -

Marshall 6, Memphis 5 (10)

Memphis (11-13; 3-1 C-USA) 	001 020 200 0 - 5  7 1
Marshall (10-12; 1-3 C-USA)	000 131 000 1 - 6 10 2

Marshall won the series opener on a two-out, bases loaded balk in the 10th inning, and then got a seventh-inning, RBI-single by Josh Valle to plate the go ahead run in the nightcap to clinch a sweep of Memphis in C-USA action on Saturday. The loss pushes the U of M's (11-14; 3-2 C-USA) current slide to four games, while Marshall improves to 11-12 overall and 2-3 in league play.

After Memphis got a sacrifice fly by Brett Bowen and a two-run single by Robby Graham to build a 3-1 lead through four and a half innings of play, Marshall made a charge with three runs in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. The Herd scored all three runs on one blow--a bases-clearing double to the leftfield corner off the bat of Tommy Johnson.

A double down the rightfield line by Adam Yeager was followed by an RBI-single by Kenny Socorro to give the Herd a two-run advantage at 4-3.

Memphis responded with two scores in the seventh inning. Bowen reached on a leadoff walk and moved to second on a groundball by Trey Wiedman. The junior then stole third base and scored on an infield error by the Marshall defense on a groundball by Robby Graham. Graham eventually came around to score the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Eric Farrell.

Both offenses were held scoreless until the home half of the 10th. Jeff Rowley drew a lead off walk and Matt Helms followed with a bunt single. A sac bunt by Brandon Casamassima advanced each runner ahead a base and Yeager was issued an intentional walk. After a bases-loaded strikeout, a balk was called, allowing pinch runner Ben Jurevicius to score the game-winning run for the 6-5 final.

The Memphis offense had no trouble getting runners on base as five leadoff hitter reached base. However the problem was getting the runners in. The Tigers stranded 15 runners, including stranding nine runners in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

Memphis (11-14; 3-2 C-USA)	020 000 000 - 2  7 1
Marshall (11-12; 2-3 C-USA)	000 002 10x - 3 10 2

Marshall 3, Memphis 2

The Tiger offense scratched for two early runs, but was unable to take advantage of a career performance by pitcher Will Hudgens. Hudgens struck out a career-best nine batters and Marcus Barnes added four strikeouts in the contest. Barnes was saddled with the loss.

Consecutive singles by Trey Wiedman and Graham set up a two-run double by Tyler Huelsing. With a 2-0 lead the Tiger failed to expand the cushion, leaving four of its six stranded runners on second or third base.

Meanwhile, Hudgens held Marshall scoreless until the sixth. Nate Lape reached on a one-out infield single and a botched grounder allowed Kurt Lipton on base. A walk to Johnson loaded the bases and Rowley provided the big blow, ripping a two-run double to right field to tie the game.

Josh Valle's RBI-single put the Herd on top and Steve Blevins and reliever Ian Kadesh teamed up to hold the Tigers scoreless over the final seven innings of play. Blevins (3-2) picked up the win and Kadesh earned his first save.

The two squads will wrap up the series on Sunday, with the series finale slated for 10 a.m.