Marshall University Athletics
Friday, March 4
Huntington, W.Va.
2:00 PM
Marshall University
8-3
7
vs
0
Oakland
2-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Oakland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Marshall
0
0
5
0
2
0
0
0
X
7
13
1
Photo by: Jack Kelly
Purnell’s Pitching Performance Powers Herd to Game Two Victory over Oakland
3/4/2022 5:46:00 PM | Baseball
Billups records three-RBI game
Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University baseball team (8-3) used a superb performance on the hill from Jeffrey Purnell to take down the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (2-5), 7-0, on Friday at the Kennedy Center. The win extended the Herd's winning streak to seven games, its longest win streak since it won nine straight in 2016.
"He (Purnell) is a senior that pounded the zone and he's been doing it all year," Marshall head baseball coach Jeff Waggoner said after the win.
Purnell started his outing with six no-hit innings. After giving up a walk in the top of the first, he retired the next 16 Golden Grizzlies he faced. During those 16 outs, he struck out seven Oakland batters, including striking out the side in the fourth. He finished his outing in the seventh when he gave up his only hit, but struck out two in his final frame of work.
The offense exploded in the third inning. Catcher Kyle Schaefer got on base with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Center fielder Luke Edwards followed with a single through the right side to score Schaefer and give the Herd a 1-0 lead. Left fielder Cole Williams doubled down the left-field line to give Marshall runners at second and third with one out.
Designated hitter Ryan Leitch and second baseman Christian Lucio followed with back-to-back singles to score Edwards and Williams. Lucio was then caught stealing, but Leitch took home on the play as the Herd led 4-0. After first baseman Daniel Carinci walked and a single by third baseman Travis Sankovich, right fielder Jordon Billups singled to right field, scoring Carinci and giving MU a 5-0 advantage as it batted through the order in the inning.
Billups then launched a two-run homer to left center in the fifth to put Marshall on top 7-0. It was his first of the season.
Relief pitcher Sam Thompson through a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts and Cam Rokisky threw a scoreless ninth with a strikeout to close out the game for the Herd.
UP NEXT
Marshall looks to take series over Oakland on Saturday in game three. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @herdbsb on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University baseball team (8-3) used a superb performance on the hill from Jeffrey Purnell to take down the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (2-5), 7-0, on Friday at the Kennedy Center. The win extended the Herd's winning streak to seven games, its longest win streak since it won nine straight in 2016.
"He (Purnell) is a senior that pounded the zone and he's been doing it all year," Marshall head baseball coach Jeff Waggoner said after the win.
Purnell started his outing with six no-hit innings. After giving up a walk in the top of the first, he retired the next 16 Golden Grizzlies he faced. During those 16 outs, he struck out seven Oakland batters, including striking out the side in the fourth. He finished his outing in the seventh when he gave up his only hit, but struck out two in his final frame of work.
The offense exploded in the third inning. Catcher Kyle Schaefer got on base with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Center fielder Luke Edwards followed with a single through the right side to score Schaefer and give the Herd a 1-0 lead. Left fielder Cole Williams doubled down the left-field line to give Marshall runners at second and third with one out.
Designated hitter Ryan Leitch and second baseman Christian Lucio followed with back-to-back singles to score Edwards and Williams. Lucio was then caught stealing, but Leitch took home on the play as the Herd led 4-0. After first baseman Daniel Carinci walked and a single by third baseman Travis Sankovich, right fielder Jordon Billups singled to right field, scoring Carinci and giving MU a 5-0 advantage as it batted through the order in the inning.
Billups then launched a two-run homer to left center in the fifth to put Marshall on top 7-0. It was his first of the season.
Relief pitcher Sam Thompson through a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts and Cam Rokisky threw a scoreless ninth with a strikeout to close out the game for the Herd.
UP NEXT
Marshall looks to take series over Oakland on Saturday in game three. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall baseball, follow @HerdBaseball on Twitter and @herdbsb on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Purnell, Jeffrey (1-0)
L: DECKER, B. (0-1)
Base Running:
SB: POLLOCK, L. 1
Batting:
2B: Williams, Cole 2
HR: Billups, Jordon 1
RBI: Edwards, Luke 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Lucio, Christian 1 ; Billups, Jordon 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Schaefer, Kyle 1 ; Edwards, Luke 1 ; Williams, Cole 1 ; Leitch, Ryan 1 ; Carinci, Daniel 1 ; Sankovich, Travis 1 ; Billups, Jordon 1
SB: Blanton, Geordon 1
CS: Blanton, Geordon 1 ; Schaefer, Kyle 1 ; Lucio, Christian 1
HBP: Blanton, Geordon 2 ; Williams, Cole 1 ; Gardiner, Zach 1 ; Carinci, Daniel 1
PO: Blanton, Geordon 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballC
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INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
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C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
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