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Gomez? Home Run Leads Marshall Past Baseball, 4-3

LEXINGTON, Va.? Marshall designated hitter Victor Gomez led off the seventh inning with a home run to centerfield to break a tie, as the Thundering Herd scored a 4-3 victory over VMI on Friday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium. MU improves to 6-6 on the season, while the Keydets fall to 4-10.

Gomez' (Miami, Fla./LaSalle), hitting from the ninth-spot in the order, saw his first career home run break a 3-3 tie after opposing ninth-hitter Justin Hess tied the contest with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.

But that was the only mark against MU starter Andrew Blain (2-1) in eight innings pitched, as the junior lefty scattered six hits while striking out four in his third start of the season. Arik Sikula followed with a five-pitch ninth inning to lock down his second save of the season.

Barham (1-2) took the loss by giving up four runs on ten hits over six-plus innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. He was relieved by Matt Edwards, who surrendered only two hits while shutting the Thundering Herd down over the final three innings.

“I thought that our kids came out and played hard today,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “Today was what you expect in a Friday game, with two starting pitchers battling. It just came down to that their kid was better than ours today. I take the credit for this loss, I left Trey in one batter too long, and Gomez hit a home run to win the game. But I was real proud of Trey's performance and how Matt Edwards threw in relief, and Justin Hess and Mike Roberts had some great at bats to get us going offensively.”

The visitors got on the board in the second inning, when cleanup man Nate Lape slugged his team-leading eighth home run of the season to leadoff the second inning. The Herd tacked on another in the fourth, as Jeff Rowley led off with a double to rightfield before scoring two batters later on a two-bagger off the bat of Kurt Lipton.

The Herd then claimed a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth, as Adam Yeager, who reached on a fielder's choice, went to third base on a stolen base and a throwing error before trotting home on an RBI groundout from Kenny Socorro.

The Keydets knotted the score at three in the bottom-half of the inning, when Brian Sandridge and Ryan Barefoot scored on Hess' second career home run, a shot to left-centerfield on a 3-1 pitch with two men down in the inning.

VMI saw Mike Roberts' collect his second double of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth, but stranded him at third base for the second straight time.

Gomez followed with his roundtripper beyond the centerfield wall to chase Barham, giving the Herd the lead for good.

The Keydets mounted their final rally in the bottom of the seventh, stranding runners at second and third before Blain and Sikula combined to retire the final seven batters the Keydets sent to the plate in the loss.

Gomez' 3-for-4 day led the way for the Herd, while Lape accounted for the team's other home run while going 1-for-4. Hess went 2-for-3 with three RBI from the bottom spot in the lineup, while Roberts' pair of doubles on a 2-for-4 afternoon were VMI's only other extra-base hits. Meanwhile, Tanner Biagini's 14-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-4 outing.

The Keydets and Thundering Herd play game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Ryan Barefoot

#21 Ryan Barefoot

SS/RHP
6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

IF
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

RHP/DH
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

IF/OF
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

C
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Ryan Barefoot

#21 Ryan Barefoot

6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
SS/RHP
Tanner Biagini

#24 Tanner Biagini

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Matt Edwards

#14 Matt Edwards

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP/DH
Justin Hess

#3 Justin Hess

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
IF/OF
Mike Roberts

#6 Mike Roberts

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
C
Brian Sandridge

#31 Brian Sandridge

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
OF