Baseball Ties Marshall in Exhibition
October 19, 2014 03:38 PM | General
"We talked before the game that we're not interested in results today, we're interested in the process," coach Randy Mazey said. "We have a lot of new guys and we were subbing guys in and out. In our situation up here we dont get to play many intrasquads outside in the spring, so we have to use these games in the fall to figure out lineups and who can play where."
With the Mountaineers trailing 8-6 entering the bottom of the ninth, second baseman Shaun Corso hit a two-out, two-run double off the left field wall to tie the game. Left fielder Kyle Davis began the rally by getting hit by a pitch, followed by a two-out single up the middle by shortstop Taylor Munden.
Munden finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with three runs, one home run and one RBI. First baseman Jackson Cramer batted 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI and center fielder Shaun Wood had two RBI.
West Virginia took an early lead in the first inning, scoring five runs on four hits. The first six batters reached base, highlighted by a pair of two-run singles by Cramer and Wood. Designated hitter Brad Johnson also scored on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Justin Fox.
After Marshall scored two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the WVU lead to 5-2, Munden hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth to left center field, bringing the Mountaineer advantage to 6-2.
The Thundering Herd took a 7-6 lead following a five-run top of the seventh inning. Andrew Dundon and TJ Diffenderfer had two-run singles to lead the Marshall attack, with Diffenderfer’s giving Marshall the lead.
Marshall added another run in the top of the ninth, bringing the score to 8-6, following a leadoff double to center field by Austin Norman. Norman later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dundon.
Diffenderfer went 2-for-5 with one run and three RBI, while Norman was 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
Right-hander Chad Donato pitched 2.0 innings in the start, allowing one hit and striking out two. Left-hander Jordan Sergent struck out three in 2.0 innings of relief, and right-hander Jeff Hardy struck out one in 1.1 innings.
West Virginia returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the annual alumni game. First pitch at Hawley Field is set for 4 p.m.
