GREENSBORO, N.C.— Marshall rallied twice in Saturday’s matchup vs. North Carolina A&T but fell to the Aggies 8-7 on Lester Salcedo’s walkoff RBI single in the 12th inning.
Cory Garrastazu went 4-6 and Chase Vogelbach recorded three hits for The Herd, which trailed 5-1 before a three-run eighth tightened the score. Garrastazu’s two-run double was the big blow.
Heading into the ninth down 5-4, Vogelbach led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error before Andrew Dundon’s double tied it.
Marshall scored twice to take a 7-5 lead in the top of the 10th, when catcher Matt Reed doubled home Garrastazu and then scored himself on Spencer Iacovone’s double.
But Herd closer Ryan Hopkins couldn’t hold the lead upon entering the game in the bottom of the 10th. The senior gave up a single and a walk before a two-out error by third baseman Brandon Romero allowed both runs to score, extending the game.
Hopkins worked a scoreless 11th before allowing a leadoff single in the 12th and giving way to freshman left-hander Roscoe Blackburn.
After throwing error by Blackburn advanced the A&T runner, he intentionally walked two Aggies to set up a force play. That’s when Salcedo, the Aggies’ catcher, ripped a single to right field as NC A&T plated the winning run.