Topic: H-D: Herd hoping to make tournament

[biggreenarms]

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University sits 10th in the Conference USA baseball standings. Only eight teams go to the conference tournament.

Marshall's bid to make the tournament continues with a weekend series against Old Dominion at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston. Games are Friday at 1 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Rice, UAB, Southern Miss, FIU, UTSA, East Carolina, Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee occupy the top eight places in the standings. Marshall can possibly crack that group with victories against Old Dominion and next week at Middle Tennessee.

Marshall, 20-25 overall and 10-13 in C-USA, is honoring senior players Josh King, Ryan Hopkins and John Beary this weekend.

Right-hander Matt Margaritonda (2-5, 3.68 ERA) starts Friday on the mound for Marshall against ODU right-hander Brett Harris (1-1, 3.51).

Eric Escobedo of the Thundering Herd has an 11-game hitting streak. Escobedo is hitting only .199, but has 24 runs batted in. Corey Bird leads the team with a .308 average. T.J. Diffenderfer has a .258 average, three home runs and 26 RBIs.

Seventh-place Old Dominion (28-20, 14-13) is led in hitting by Taylor Ostrich (.322), Nick Walker (.321), P.J. Higgins (.315) and Josiah Burney (.313). Burney also has six homers and 36 RBIs.

Ben Slaton of the Monarchs is hitting .288 with three homers and 37 RBIs.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall/x1315748492/Herd-hoping-to-make-tournament