Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Marshall baseball team plated four runs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a close game on its way to a 10-6 win at Samford Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. With the win by Marshall, the two teams split the season-opening four-game series.

Samford (2-2) was led at the plate by Mason Meredeth, going 4-for-5 with a double and a triple. David Schulze went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Brad Moss was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Michael Johnson went 2-for-4. Josh Martin pitched 1.1 innings in relief, giving up four runs on four hits to take the loss.

For Marshall (2-2), Isaac Ballou went 3-for-6 with a double, a triple and three RBI. Victor Gomez, Thor Meeks and Alfredo Brito had two hits each for the Thundering Herd. Mike Cavalli tossed 4.0 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits to earn the win.

With the score tied at 2-2 after two and a half innings, Samford plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. Schulze doubled to right-center field to drive in Meredeth to give Samford the lead. Trey Hayes then singled to left field to drive in Schulze to make the score 4-2. Hayes scored the final run of the inning when Marcus Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop for a three-run Samford lead.

Marshall came back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the score at 5-5. Brito scored the first run of the inning when Kris Hecktor reached base on a Samford error. Ballou later tripled to drive in Hecktor and Eric Semeniuk to tie the score.

Samford quickly took the lead back with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Stephen Ballard scored from third base when Hayes reached base on a fielder's choice to make the score 6-5.

Marshall tied the score with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Ballou singled up the middle to drive in Kirby Pellant to tie the score at 6-6.

The Thundering Herd plated four runs in the top of the eighth inning, all with two outs, to make the final score 10-6. Samford's Martin got the first two batters of the inning out before Josh Valle and Gomez hit back-to-back singles. Meeks then doubled to left-center field to drive in Valle for the eventual game-winning run. After Samford intentionally walked Kurt Lipton to load the bases, Nathan Gomez hit a bases-clearing double down the left-field line for the final three runs of the game.

For the game, Marshall pounded out 13 hits, while Samford tallied 12 hits and two errors. Each team left nine men on base in the game.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 23, when the Bulldogs play at in-state rival Troy. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Troy's Riddle-Pace Field.