Despite nine strikeouts from Ryan Thurston and a two-run homerun from Marshall Smith, WKU Baseball lost to Marshall by a score of 3-2 on Friday afternoon. Going into the ninth inning tied 2-2, the 2-hour, 13-minute game ended on a bases-loaded single by Thundering Herd catcher Reynaldo Pastrana with one out.
After allowing a solo homerun in the first frame, Thurston settled in nicely. His nine punchouts were the most since the 14-strikeout performance vs. Illinois State on March 10, while pitching a season-high eight-plus innings. The lefty had two strikeouts in three different innings and at least one in 6-of-8 frames.
The WKU runs came on a swing by an unlikely Hilltopper, Marshall Smith. Making his second start of the season at second base, Smith lined a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence to score Kaleb Duckworth and tie the game 2-2 with one out in the fifth. It was his first career long ball on The Hill, as he became the 12th different Hilltopper to hit a homerun this season.
Wyatt Featherston followed with a two-out triple to center field, but he was left on base and WKU was unable to get any more across against the Marshall pitching staff of Wade Martin and Matt Reed.
What’s Up Next
The Hilltoppers and Thundering Herd return to George T. Smailes Sr. Field tomorrow afternoon for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch. RHP Jacob Niggemeyer is likely to throw for Marshall, while WKU’s starter remains TBA at this time.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, follow the program via social media @WKUBaseball on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
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Bryan Fyalkowski
Assistant Director of Media Relations