Marshall Edges Lehigh to Open Series

Saturday, March 4

Huntington, WV

1 p.m.

Lehigh University

1-3

Marshall University

3-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Lehigh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Marshall	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	X	3	3	0

3/4/2017 6:13:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lehigh and Marshall combined for just seven hits and the Thundering Herd picked up the runs they needed early to edge out the Mountain Hawks, 3-0, on Saturday to take game one of the three-game weekend series. The teams will return to Kennedy Center Field tomorrow for a doubleheader to finish out the series.

Marshall (3-5) hung two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning on a two-RBI double by Tyler Ratliff. The third baseman drove in Will Ray and Sam Finfer who reached on back-to-back walks to start the game for the Herd. Marshall tacked on another run in the fourth on a RBI single by Damian Rodriguez to drive in Shane Hanon from second who led off the inning with a walk.

Lehigh (1-3) put its first runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning when Anthony Rinaldi roped a two-out double to left. The Mountain Hawks posed their first serious threat in the sixth as Stephen Fitzgerald and James Bleming started the inning with consecutive walks. Following a pop up to the pitcher on a bunt attempt by Jacen Nalesnik to record the inning's first out, David Young drew another walk for Lehigh and loaded the bases. After a pitching change, Marshall recorded a strikeout and a foul out to get out of the jam.

The Mountain Hawks had runners in scoring position multiple times during the seventh inning, but costly outs made on the base paths snuffed out the chances at a scoring opportunity. Lehigh had something cooking in the top of the ninth with two outs. Fitzgerald and Bleming drew back-to-back walks with two outs, but Marshall managed to get out of the jam and end the game with a strikeout.

Wade Martin earned the win for Marshall as he went 5.2 innings, giving up no runs and just two hits with eight strikeouts. Hunter Sexton came on in middle relief and did more damage for the Herd as he tossed 3.1 scoreless innings with just two hits and four strikeouts.

Peter Moore started on the mound for Lehigh and took the loss as he tossed 3.1 innings, surrendering three runs on just two hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Ethan Frohman came on in relief and had another stellar performance to build off his outing last weekend. The sophomore threw the final 4.1 innings and allowed no runs with just one hit, to go with one walk and five strikeouts.

Rinaldi led Lehigh on the day at the plate and finished as the only player in the game with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4. Ratliff led Marshall with two RBI as he finished 1-for-3 and drew a walk.

"Frohman was outstanding again today and competed at a high level. He kept us in the game and gave us a shot to win," said head coach Sean Leary. "Offensively, we battled to get on base, but we did not execute effectively with our base running or hitting with runners in scoring position. We will keep positive and be ready to compete again tomorrow."

The Mountain Hawks will have two more chances to come away with a victory on Sunday and notch the program's first win against Marshall as they now fall to 0-4 against the Herd. Sunday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 10 a.m. at Kennedy Center Field.