Baseball edged by Marshall, 6-5, in 12 innings

BOX SCORE (PDF) | AUDIO ARCHIVE

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Morehead State freshman shortstop Reid Leonard's two-out single in the ninth tied the game, but Marshall first baseman Tommy Lane delivered a leadoff, walk-off homer in the 12th as the Eagle baseball team fell 6-5 to the Thundering Herd at the Kennedy Center Field Tuesday.
 
The loss halted a six-game winning streak for the Eagles, who are now 12-4. Marshall won its fifth straight to improve to 9-6.
 
In a back-and-forth battle, Morehead State trailed 3-1 in the seventh before junior first baseman Jesus Carrera connected on a two-run single and junior third baseman Alex Stephens chopped an RBI infield single for 4-3 MSU lead. The hosts generated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to re-take the upperhand.
 
"We had some great at-bats when our backs were against the wall, but not enough of them," said Head Coach Mike McGuire. "We had chances in extra innings and did not get quality at-bats then. I have no problem with the way they won the game. I tell our team that they have to make the other team hit to wins games, and credit Marshall. They got the big hit, and we didn't."
 
Lane nailed a 3-2 pitch from junior reliever Seth Boyle over the fence in left centerfield for the win, Marshall's first in three seasons against MSU. Boyle, the last of eight pitchers for the Eagles, fell to 0-1 after retiring the side in the 11^th. Senior righty Craig Pearcy held Marshall hitless in the eighth, ninth and 10^th frames.
 
Carrera led the offense, which had 14 hits, by going 3-for-5. He has now reached base in all 16 games. Junior centerfielder Ryan Kent, junior rightfielder Will Schneider, Leonard and freshman leftfielder Tanner Buenting each had two hits. Schneider extended his hitting streak to eight games. Leonard has hit in seven consecutive outings now.
 
Lane finished with three of the 'Herd's 10 hits.
 
Morehead State heads back into Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend at Southeast Missouri. Game one of the three-game set is slated for Friday at 4 p.m. ET.