Huntington, W. Va. – Kurt Lipton recorded four hits and scored a pair of runs to lead Marshall to an 11-7 victory over the Le Moyne College baseball team on Sunday at the Kennedy Center.

The Thundering Herd jumped out to an early lead by scoring seven runs over the first three innings. Victor Gomez singled through the left side with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a single by Lipton, Gomez scored as Thor Meeks reached on an error.

In the second frame, Marshall added three runs on two hits and an error. Rhett Stafford walked, stole second and came around to score as Kenny Socorro reached on an error. Isaac Ballou then tripled down the right field line to plate Socorro. Kirby Pellant followed with a ground out to shortstop to knock in Ballou.

The Thundering Herd extended their lead to 7-0 with three runs on three hits in the third. Eric Semeniuk blasted a solo home run to left center with two outs for the first run. Stafford followed with a double to center and Socorro was hit by a pitch to force a Le Moyne pitching change. Following a double steal and a walk to Ballou to load the bases, Pellant singled to center to score Stafford and Socorro.

Le Moyne got on the scoreboard with four runs on three hits and an error in the fifth inning. Senior left fielder Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) reached on an error, senior center fielder Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) singled through the left side and sophomore designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) walked to load the bases. Senior first baseman Rich Brown (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) followed with a double to left field to drive in all three base runners. After a Marshall pitching change and a wild pitch, Brown scored from third on a ground out by sophomore pinch-hitter Don Schaaf (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood HS).

Marshall got one run back in the bottom of the fifth on a ground out by Pellant that plated Stafford, who walked to lead off the inning.

Le Moyne answered back with one run in the top of the sixth to get back to within three runs. Sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) and Edmondson each singled to left to open the frame. After a ground out moved each runner up a base, Marra scored on a ground out to the right side by Ciraco.

The Herd responded with a run on a pair of hits in the bottom half of the inning. Lipton singled to center with one out and came in to score on a double to right center by Meeks.

The Dolphins scored single runs in each of the last two innings around two runs by Marshall in the eighth. Marra walked and Edmondson reached on an error to open the eighth. After a pair of outs, Brown singled to left field to drive in Marra.

For Marshall in the eighth, Lipton singled through the right and scored on a double to center by Meeks. Meeks then stole third and scored on an error by the catcher.

Le Moyne wrapped up the game's scoring with one run on one hit in the final inning. Freshman third baseman Paul Speicher (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) singled to lead off the inning and moved to third on two passed balls. Classmate Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) drove in Speicher with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Arik Sikula picked up the win for the Thundering Herd out of the bullpen by tossing three innings, while allowing just one run on four hits. Freshman Jerome Werniuk (Toronto, Ontario/Neil McNeil Catholic) suffered the loss for the Dolphins after giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits over two and two-thirds innings. Wiley and Brown each had two hits on the day for Le Moyne, with Brown adding four runs batted in.

Le Moyne (8-11), which scored 31 runs and had 41 hits in the series, returns to action on Tuesday, March 23 for a doubleheader at Bucknell. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.

-agate-

Marshall 11, Le Moyne 7 Le Moyne (8-11)          000      041      011      -           7          8          3
Marshall (8-9)              133      011      02X      -           11        13        2

Le Moyne (8-11): Jerome Werniuk (L, 1-4), Tom McDermott (3), Mike Anarumo (5), Luke Nellis (6), Casey Cannon (8), Michael Kitts (8) and Brian Stinson, Kyle Kalaka (5), Rich Brown (8).

Marshall (8-9): Ryan Kiel, Arik Sikula (5, W, 3-2), Tyler Gatrell (8), Austin Coan (9) and Thor Meeks.