3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Herd out hits Bulldogs for 7-6 win

MUBSB2014_Corey Bird
Corey Bird went 4-for-5 with an RBI and stolen base in Marshall’s 7-6 win over La. Tech.

RUSTON, La. – Marshall pounded out 17 hits and kept its postseason hopes alive with a 7-6 win over Louisiana Tech Thursday night at Love Field in Ruston, La. The Herd enters play Friday one game behind Old Dominion University for the final spot in the Conference USA Tournament.

The Herd was paced at the plate by sophomore Corey Bird who went 4-for-5 with an RBI and stolen base while junior D.J. Gee drove in a pair of runs and swiped two bases. Senior Sergio Leon added a lead-off homer in the fifth inning, his second long ball of the season.

“It was another good team win. Offensively, we just outhit them, and defensively, we got into some trouble but grinded it out and found a way to stop the ‘bleeding’, which is what good teams do. It was nice for me to get two breaking balls up with two strikes so I could put a good swing on it. I’m just happy we could get the win and I was able to contribute to that win.”

As it would turn out, Marshall needed every one of those 17 hits to keep the Bulldogs at bay. Marshall plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning and had a comfortable 7-3 lead.Chad Roberts smacked a two-run double off the center field wall followed by an RBI single by freshman Tyler Ratliff.

But Louisiana Tech would quickly close the gap.

The Bulldogs came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jacob Derouen led off with a solo homer. Thomas Simoneaux and Chandler Hall followed with singles while Colby Johnson earned a walk to load the bases. Marshall forced in a run, hitting a batter with the bases full of Bulldogs. The Herd was able to snuff out the rally with a strikeout and ground ball.

Clinging to a two- run lead, the Herd gave up back-to-back one out doubles putting the tying run in scoring position. Tyler Nichols came up with an RBI single with two outs in the ninth to cut Marshall’s lead to one. That’s when Herd Coach Jeff Waggoner turned to senior Clint Wilson out of the bullpen.

With the tying run at third, Wilson needed just three pitches to get the strike and secure the win. It was Wilson’s third save of the season.

“Coming into the game with that kind of situation didn’t really have any effect on me. It was definitely a pressure type of moment, but I was confident in my pitches and my defense behind me. We’ve worked too hard this season, so I knew I had to finish this one out the right way. Three pitches and three strikes to get him looking like that was a great way to end the game and give us the momentum for this final push.”

Meanwhile, Marshall is now one game behind ODU for the final C-USA Tourney spot. The Monarchs lost on Friday to UAB 7-4. Marshall holds the head-to-head tie-breaker with ODU.

First pitch for game two between Marshall and Louisiana Tech is set for 7 p.m. (eastern).





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