April 6, 2008

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La - Marshall University sophomore first baseman Josh Valle drilled a two-out, two-RBI single in the ninth inning to tie the game at 5-5 and, after a scoreless 10th inning, the two teams were forced to settle for a tie in Sunday's Conference USA baseball game at Turchin Stadium.

Per C-USA rules, an inning cannot start after 4:30 p.m. local time on a Sunday travel day. With the tie, Marshall is 14-14-1 overall, 4-4-1 in conference action. Tulane is now 21-9-1 on the season, and 3-2-1 in the league.

Trailing 5-2 in the top of the ninth, Marshall senior catcher Tommy Johnson and senior left fielder Jeff Rowley registered walks to start the inning. Green Wave right-handed reliever Mason Griffin entered the game in relief of Preston Claiborne and surrendered a one-out single to junior shortstop Adam Yeager, scoring Johnson's pinch-runner Matt Helm from second. Griffin induced a groundout to second base before Valle smacked a two-out single to right field, scoring both runs to tie the game at five. Griffin then forced an inning-ending groundout.

Marshall freshman right-hander Arik Sikula entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and held the Green Wave scoreless.

With two outs in the top of the 10th, freshman left fielder Ben Jurevicius reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and advanced to second on the play, but was stranded.

Tulane first baseman Sam Honeck launched a lead off double to right center field and was then thrown out at third on a fielder's choice off the bat of right fielder Drew Allain. Allain then stole second on a strikeout to put the winning run on second base, but Sikula forced a game-ending strikeout which concluded the contest.

Marshall got on the board in the first when Valle ripped a two-out double down the right field line. Junior center fielder Nate Lape followed that with a high fly ball to center that dropped in for a double, sending Valle home on the play. Tulane got out of the inning down 1-0.

Tulane answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Allain singled to center field and scored when second baseman Anthony Scelfo doubled to the left field corner. Shortstop Seth Henry placed an infield single down the third base line, sending Scelfo to third before designated hitter Andrew Rodgers scorched a double down the left field line to plate the Green Wave's second and third runs of the inning. Herd sophomore right-handed starter Dan Straily retired the next two batters before issuing a pair of free passes to load the bases. Tulane's ninth batter of the inning popped up to second base to end the inning.

After allowing three runs in the first, Straily settled down and pitched three scoreless innings, highlighted by double plays in the third and fourth stanzas.

The Green Wave extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Henry drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on Rodgers' base-hit to center field. Both runners scored when third baseman Rob Segedin laced a double to left field. Segedin was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple on a well-executed relay from the outfield. Marshall senior right-hander Adam Dobies came in to relieve Straily, and issued a strikeout to end the inning.

The Herd struck for a run in the top of the sixth when junior third baseman Brandon Casamassima singled through the left side and advanced to second on a throwing error allowing Valle to reach on the fielder's choice. Casamassima then came full circle when Lape doubled down the left field line giving Marshall runners on second and third, but could not plate another run as Green Wave right-handed starter Jonathan Garrett retired the next three in order to keep the lead at 5-2.

Tulane loaded the bases in the home half of the sixth with a single and back-to-back two-out walks. Senior right-hander Andrew Hancock replaced Dobies and forced an inning-ending ground out to shortstop to halt the Green Wave threat.

Garrett struck out three batters in 6.2 innings of work in the no decision for Tulane.

Marshall started a two-out rally in the top of the seventh when junior shortstop Yeager reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and then stole second. Casamassima was then hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second, but the Herd could not capitalize.

Tulane loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh with two-outs, but Hancock pitched out of the jam with his second strikeout of the game.

Herd redshirt sophomore lefty Ryan Kiel entered in the eighth in relief of Hancock and retired the side in order.

Marshall returns to non-conference action Tuesday, April 8, for a 3:00 p.m. contest at Morehead State.