May 8, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Thundering Herd baseball team will host Delaware State in a three-game non-conference series at the Kennedy Center on Route 2 in Huntington, W.Va., Friday, May 9-10. Friday's contest marks the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

Prior to the start of Friday's contest, the Kennedy Center complex will be dedicated to George Smailes, the executive director of the Huntington YMCA. David Tyson and Mike Farrell with throw out the ceremonial first pitch following the dedication.

Friday's game will start at 3:00 p.m. ET with a doubleheader to be played Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Marshall (24-25-1 overall) enters the weekend on a three-game slide, while Delaware State has lost seven of its last nine games for an overall record of 16-29. The Herd is just three wins shy of tying the single-season wins record of 27 last achieved in 2004.

Herd right-hander Steve Blevins (7-2) will get the ball Friday night. The Hornets will send JR McAllister (3-4) to the hill. Blevins has a 4.78 ERA with 50 punch outs in 69.2 innings of work so far this season. His seven wins is a Marshall best, and also marks the first time a Herd pitcher has reached seven wins in a single season since the 2000 campaign.

Saturday's game one will feature Herd righty Dan Straily (3-3) against Delaware State's hurler, Josh Schmidt (7-4). Straily has a 5.14 ERA and 44 strikeouts on the season for the Herd.

Marshall's Shane Farrell (1-1) will take the mound in the nightcap against Hornets' southpaw Jamie Friel (3-6). Farrell has a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings of work (seven appearances, four starts) so far this season.

The Herd is led offensively by Nate Lape, who enters weekend play with a .384 batting average with 15 doubles and 14 long balls on the year. He also has 51 RBIs and a .706 slugging percentage to go along with his 16 stolen bases.

Victor Gomez follows close behind in batting average (.380). The freshman has 65 hits including nine doubles three triples and nine home runs, in addition to a .626 slugging percentage. His 38 RBIs is good enough for third on the squad, behind Lape and Tommy Johnson, who has 43.

Johnson has also provided a powerful bat for the Herd. He has registered a .333 clip with 52 hits, including 12 doubles, a triple and eight home runs on the season.

Adam Yeager has continued to make his presence felt on the base paths. He has swiped 34 bags in 41 attempts. The mark places him fourth in the nation in the category. He is just six shy of tying the Marshall single-season mark of 40.

Following its series with Delaware State, the Herd will close out regular season action with a Conference USA series at Houston.