Baseball's Three-Game Win Streak Comes to an End at Marshall, 8-5
4/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. Marshall University scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off normally reliable reliever Chad Wagler (Hartville, Ohio/Lake), coming from behind for an 8-5 victory over the Kent State University baseball team in the opener of their three-game Mid-American Conference series this afternoon (Apr. 8) at University Heights.
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Kent State (16-10, 2-3 MAC). The win was just the second in six games for Marshall (9-16, 4-3 MAC).
Kent State struck first in the second inning when freshman DH Greg Rohan (North Lima, Ohio/South Range) doubled home junior catcher Kurt Eichorn (Galion, Ohio/Lexington) for the games first run. Senior OF Chuck Moore (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) followed with a two-run homer to right field, his first of the season, for a 3-0 lead.
A two-run home run by Marshalls Adam Ptacek in the third inning cut the lead to one and Joe Glevenyak tied the game at 3-3 with a solo shot leading off the fourth. An inning later, the Herd took the lead on an RBI-single by Adam Fredeick.
Kent State retook the lead in the seventh inning on a two-run blast by sophomore 3B Andrew Davis (Chillicothe, Ohio/Zanes Trace).
Wagler (4-2) opened the eighth by hitting Nick Wolle. Ptacek reached on a bunt single and Frederick followed with a double down the left field line to tie the game. Aaron Jamieson followed with a single through the left side- the Herds third straight hit- to score Ptacek for a 6-5 lead. Aaron Levinson and Bubba Pfaff also added RBI singles later in the inning to make it a three-run game.
Jason Brunke (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North/DuPage) allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He walked one and struck out three before leaving with a 5-4 lead.
Neither starter factored in the decision as Marshalls Chris Koutsavlis went six-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five.
Brendon Bump (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. David Slovak pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.
Davis had two hits and drove in two runs for the Flashes. Sophomore SS Manny Burriss (Washington, D.C./Wilson) and junior CF Joe Tucker (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic) also had two hits each.
Ptacek had three hits for Marshall, scoring twice and also driving in two runs. Frederickson went 2-for-4 with two RB while Glevenyak and Levinson also went 2-for-4 in the ballgame.
The two teams resume their series on Saturday, Apr. 9, at 1 p.m. at University Heights.
GAME NOTES: The loss was the first for Kent State when leading after seven innings (11-1)â?¦ Tucker extended his hitting streak to eight gamesâ?¦ Brunke picked off two runners, Ptacek in the first and Glevenyak in the sixth, both at first baseâ?¦ Burriss was caught stealing third base in the second inning, snapping his consecutive stolen base streak at 12.
