April 5, 2008

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Marshall University junior right fielder Kurt Lipton tallied a two-out two-run double in the top of the ninth to go ahead 5-4 but Tulane plated two runs in the bottom of the inning to lift the Green Wave to a thrilling 6-5 victory in Friday night's Conference USA baseball game at Turchin Stadium.

With the loss, Marshall falls to 13-14 overall and 3-4 in the conference, while Tulane improves to 21-8 overall, and 3-1 in C-USA action.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the ninth, Herd junior shortstop Adam Yeager led off the top of the ninth with a single. Following a strikeout, Yeager advanced to second on a groundout to bring up junior center fielder Nate Lape. Lape was hit by a pitch before Lipton provided his late-game dramatics, giving the Herd a 5-4 advantage.

Tulane came right back with a run in the bottom of the ninth when infielder Seth Henry laced a one-out RBI double to left center field to tie the game at 5-5. Tulane loaded the bases with one-out before outfielder Scott Powell tallied a walk-off sacrifice fly to shallow center field to win the game 6-5. Tulane right-handed reliever Mason Griffin (2-1), who entered in the seventh, picked up the win while freshman right-handed hurler Arik Sikula (1-2), who also entered in the seventh, suffered the loss. Yeager and Lipton finished with two hits apiece for the Herd in the losing effort.

Tulane put a run on the board in the bottom of the first when right fielder Drew Allain led off with a triple to right field and then scored on second baseman Anthony Scelfo's sacrifice fly to center field. Marshall then turned a beautiful double play to get out of the inning down just 1-0.

The Herd responded in the top of the second when freshman designated hitter Victor Gomez tallied a lead-off home run to deep right field. The bomb was the third for Gomez on the season, and just the second that Green Wave right-handed starter Shooter Hunt has given up this season. Junior third baseman Brandon Casamassima was then hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Yeager drew a walk and then stole his 16th base of the season before sophomore second baseman Blake Sanders reached first on a throwing error. Casamassima and Yeager both crossed the plate on that play to give Marshall a 3-1 lead.

Following a brief rain delay, the Green Wave got one back in the bottom of the second when center fielder Aja Barto walked, advanced to third on a single by catcher Steve Moritz and then scored on wild pitch with two outs. Herd junior lefty starter Andrew Blain stuck out the next batter to avoid further trouble in the inning.

Tulane tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning when Allain doubled down the right field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by Scelfo. The Herd defense then turned another double play to get out of the inning.

Blain left the game after 3.2 innings of work. The junior allowed three runs on six hits and had four strikeouts in his sixth start of the season (seventh appearance).

Tulane broke the 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth when third baseman Rob Segedin launched a one-out homer to right field off Herd senior right-handed reliever Andrew Hancock. Hancock forced a ground out before red shirt sophomore southpaw Ryan Kiel came in to strikeout the next batter to end the stanza down 4-3.

Sophomore first baseman Josh Valle drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh and Lipton collected the Herd's fourth hit of the game, a single to center field but Griffin who replaced Hunt following the walk to Valle, got Tulane out of the inning unscathed.

Hunt went 6.1 innings (five scoreless) and struck out six. He allowed three runs on three hits in the no-decision.

Leading 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Tulane loaded the bases with two-outs before Sikula entered the game and forced a harmless fly out to center field.

Marshall went quietly in the top of the eighth frame, while Sikula retired the Green Wave in order in the home half of the eighth to set up the comeback in the ninth.

Marshall and Tulane will square off again Saturday, with the first pitch slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. Right-hander Steve Blevins (3-2) will be on the mound for the Herd.