April 21, 2008

KENT, Ohio - The Marshall University baseball team returns to action Tuesday, April 22 for a non-conference game at Kent State. First-pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Schoonover Stadium.

The Thundering Herd will travel to Ohio University, Wednesday, April 23. The game originally scheduled to be played at the Kennedy Center will now be played at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, Ohio at 6:00 p.m.

Marshall (19-19-1 overall) enters midweek play on a five-game winning streak following its impressive Conference USA series sweep of UCF. Marshall also ensures its best league record since joining C-USA as it is now 7-7-1.

The weekend was highlighted by the Herd's powerful offense as catcher Tommy Johnson and designated hitter Victor Gomez each blasted their sixth home runs of the season. Marshall scored 33 runs in the three games and had six players combined for five or more hits led by left fielder Jeff Rowley's seven. Right fielder Kurt Lipton and Johnson added six RBIs apiece against the Knights.

Shortstop Adam Yeager is on an eight-game hitting streak, while Rowley and Lipton have hit safely in six consecutive games.

In game two against UCF, Steve Blevins (5-2) eclipsed last-year's single season win total for a pitcher (four by Andrew Blain and Ryan Kiel) and is four wins shy of tying Marshall's all-time single-season win total for a pitcher (9).

Right-hander Andrew Hancock (3-1) earned the victory in games one and three and now has 61 career appearances which places him in a two-way tie for fifth on the Herd's all-time appearance list.

Marshall and Kent State played a doubleheader earlier this season, with the Golden Flashes posting the sweep with 12-11 and 2-1 victories. First baseman Josh Valle hit a grand slam in the first game to highlight the double dip for the Herd. Kent state now boasts a 45-19 all-time series lead over Marshall.

The Flashes enter Tuesday's action with a 21-15 season record and is on an 11-game winning streak and will start right-hander Justin Gill (2-1), Tuesday. Gill has a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings of work this season. He also has 20 strikeouts in 14 appearances on the mound this season.

The Herd will send right-hander Shane Farrell (0-0) to the hill for his third start of the season and his sixth appearance. The first-year hurler has fanned seven batters in 10.1 innings so far this year.