Topic: H-D: Herd's tourney hopes fade with loss to ODU

[biggreenarms]

CHARLESTON -- Marshall University's quest to reach the Conference USA Baseball Tournament took a hit Friday when the Thundering Herd lost to Old Dominion, 6-3, at Appalachian Power Park.

Marshall (20-27 overall, 10-14 C-USA) needs victories against the Monarchs and next week at Middle Tennessee State to have a chance at the tournament, which includes just the top eight teams in the standings. Currently, Rice, UAB, Southern Miss, FIU, UTSA, East Carolina, Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee State occupy the top eight spots.

The Monarchs took a 4-0 lead with four runs off five hits in the second inning. The Thundering Herd cut the lead to 4-3 when Eric Escobedo tripled in T.J. Diffenderfer and Andrew Dundon, then scored on a single by Corey Bird.

Old Dominon (29-20, 15-13) added two runs in the top of the fifth inning to set the score.

Marshall had a chance to rally in the seventh when Chase Vogelbach doubled and Robert Fajardo singled, but couldn't score.

Fajardo, a red-shirt sophomore from Miami, went 3-for-4 with a double. Escobedo extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Andrew Dundon went 2-for-3.

Marshall and Old Dominion return to action at 7 p.m. Saturday at Appalachian Power Park.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall/x1315748636/Herds-tourney-hopes-fade-with-loss-to-ODU