Topic: HERDZONE: Marshall Drops 2014 Finale 10-7

[biggreenarms]

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— In its final game of 2014, Marshall baseball worked a five inning comeback to come within three of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, but came up short, falling 10-7 Saturday.

Redshirt sophomore Robert Fajardo (Miami) started the scoring trend for the Herd, scoring in the third and fifth innings to put the first two on the board for Marshall. The outfielder ended the season with a 1-for-2 day with three runs and two stolen bases.

Freshman Corey Bird (Elkview, W.Va.) went 2-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases, stealing home as the first Herd member to do so since 2011.

Juniors Sergio Leon (Miami) and Andrew Dundon (Lincoln Park, N.J.) each turned in two hit performances, Leon picking up two RBI and Dundon snagging one.

The Herd plated one run in the sixth and two in the seventh and eighth to further work its comeback.

In the third, Fajardo singled to left, stole second, took third on a connection from designated hitter John Beary (Apopka, Fla.) and scored on an error for the first Marshall run.

Fajardo scored again in the fifth, boarding on his 11th hit-by-pitch of the season, moved to second on a MTSU miscue, moved to third on a Beary single, and went home on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Leon.

The Herd continued to work its way back, with second baseman Dundon scoring on a fielder’s choice from Fajardo in the sixth.


 

 

Marshall plated two more in the seventh; Leon started the inning with a single, advanced after first baseman TJ Diffenderfer (Mount Juliet, Tenn) was walked, and ended up at third on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Spencer Iacovone (Cincinnati, Ohio).
Leon then scored on a Dundon groundout. Diffenderfer added a run, coming across on a single to left field from catcher Matt Reed (Purcellville, Va.).

The combo of Fajardo and Bird came alive one more time this season, plating two in the eighth. Fajardo came across on a Leon single and as Middle Tennessee got Leon out at second, Bird came home.

Reliever Caleb Ross (Barboursville, W.Va.) became the All-Time leader in single season appearances with 36 after working a scoreless 8th where he fanned two of the four batters he faced. Ross ended the season with a team-leading 2.29 ERA, only allowing two runs in Conference USA action and four overall.

The Blue Raiders plated three in the second inning, four in the third, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh to work its 10-7 victory.

http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/051714aaa.html