Marshall 3, WKU 2 (PDF)
CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- WKU received over seven innings of quality work from lefty John Harman against Marshall Friday afternoon at the Appalachian Power Park, but the Herd were able to plate three runs on just four hits to drop the Hilltoppers in the C-USA series opener, 3-2.
Harman, a junior, was locked in a pitchers' duel with Marshall right-hander Chase Boster as both hurlers worked into the eighth inning for their squads. The Hilltoppers (23-25, 9-16 C-USA) managed to tally seven hits on Marshall's ace but he limited the damage to two runs while striking out five. Harman scattered four hits, struck out four and tossed five perfect innings against the Herd (17-30, 9-16 C-USA), but they were able to score three times on those four knocks to down the Tops.
The loss was WKU's 11th one-run defeat of the season and its seventh one-run loss in Conference USA action. The result also knots Marshall with WKU at 9-16 in league play with five games remaining in the regular-season.
WKU jumped on the scoreboard immediately thanks to the bat of junior third baseman Danny Hudzina. Hudzina ripped a double into the right field corner, moved to third on a groundout from senior first baseman Ryan Church and put WKU ahead 1-0 by racing home on a passed ball.
Marshall wouldn't let the Hilltopper lead last long as it responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the opening frame. Centerfielder Corey Bird poked a double into right field to start the Herd's answer, Harman walked TJ Diffenderfer and designated hitter Andrew Dundon blooped a single into right field to put Marshall in front, 2-1.
Harman set Marshall down in order during the second and third innings to keep WKU within a run. Senior designated hitter Philip Diedrick crushed Boster's 1-0 offering over the fence in right centerfield to tie the Tops with Marshall at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Diedrick's blast was his seventh of the year and second of the week.
Just as they did in the first inning, the Herd had a response for WKU in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Shortstop Sergio Leon lined a two-out triple over the outstretched glove of Diedrick in right field and came home on a wild pitch to give Marshall the lead back at 3-2. The run wound up deciding the game.
Boster and Harman battled through scoreless middle innings much threat before the Hilltoppers started to string together a threat in the seventh. WKU had a pair of runners on base when redshirt sophomore second baseman Leiff Clarkson reached on a passed ball despite striking out, followed by Boster intentionally walking junior outfielder Anderson Miller. The intentional walk brought Hudzina to the plate, who already had two doubles in the contest. Hudzina nearly made it three doubles with a shot into the right field corner, but a diving catch by Marshall's Robert Fajardo robbed WKU of at least one run and ended the inning.
Harman continued his dominance in the seventh inning with another clean frame and recorded the first out of the eighth inning to make it 11-straight retired before being chased on Bird's bunt single. The Tops turned to redshirt sophomore Jackson Sowell in relief and he posted the final two outs of the frame to keep WKU within one headed to the ninth inning.
Marshall's Kolin Stanley did not allow WKU to threaten in the ninth inning as he rolled the Tops into a groundout and struck out two to preserve the Herd's triumph.
The loss was pegged on Harman despite a career-long 7.1 innings of quality work that featured just one hit allowed between innings 2-7. Boster picked up the win for the Herd and Stanley earned the save.
Hudzina led the Hilltopper offense by going 2-for-4 with two doubles to post his 20th multiple hit game of the year.
WKU aims to rebound from its tough loss Saturday as it tries to even the series with Marshall at noon (CT). Senior right-hander Brennan Pearson (0-4, 2.75 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Tops tomorrow and he'll face Marshall righty JD Hammer (1-5, 4.09 ERA).
