Marshall baseball, after taking game one of the weekend series with the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, fell short in a double-header this past Sunday, Apr. 10.  

The first game on Friday, Apr. 8 was an offensive battle between Marshall and Middle Tennessee. In the first game, Middle Tennessee scored seven runs on 14 hits and allowed one error on the day. The Thundering Herd, who were victorious, scored 11 runs with 16 hits and allowed zero errors in the ballgame.  

After Friday’s game, Marshall head coach Jeff Waggoner delivered the following statement to RedZone.  

“The biggest thing about our offense today was the ability to answer back,” Waggoner said. “We were down three runs in the second inning, and we answered.”  

Waggoner also credited the starting pitcher, Jeffery Purnell, whose final line in the start went six innings, allowed 12 hits, seven runs, walked a batter and struck out one.  

Waggoner said, “Credit to Jeffrey Purnell … he didn’t have his best stuff, but he gave us a chance to win. He stayed in the game. We kept answering back while he put in big innings. It’s a credit to an older guy who gave us a quality outing.” 

With weather postponing the game last Saturday, Marshall and Middle Tennessee State played two games on Sunday.  

The first game on Sunday was a pitching duel between Eriq Swan for the Blue Raiders and Patrick Copen for Marshall. Middle Tennessee was able to get on the board after Copen hit the first three batters to start the fourth. Copen would hit Mason Spiers in the fourth, allowing the first run of the ballgame. Middle Tennessee would score two more runs in the ballgame for a 3-1 win.  

In-game two, on Sunday, the Marshall bats got off to a quick start early with two first-inning home runs by Luke Edwards and Ryan Leitch to get an early 2-0 lead. However, after the first inning, the Blue Raiders scored five unanswered runs to win the ballgame 5-2.  

After the weekend series, Marshall’s record is now 14-18-1. Marshall will be back on the diamond Tuesday against the Ohio Bobcats.