Back above .500 with Tuesday’s 4-0 district win over Murray (9-7), the Marshals (6-5) will have a chance to get the upper hand in district play if they can pull off a sweep in their second game against Murray on Friday, a game that was moved back a day from Thursday due to incoming weather.
Conner Mannon led off with a walk and with two outs, Evan Oakley took base after he was hit by a pitch before sophomore Chase Hayden knocked his first pitch out of the park to put the Marshals up 3-0 in the bottom of the first.
Murray put runners on first and second in the top of the second but the Marshals got out of the inning on the throw from catcher Griffin Darnall to short stop Brady Ives to Ty Davenport at first for the tag on Caden Kelly, caught between bases for the third out.
Oakley’s single in the bottom of the third brought in what would be the fourth and final run of the night.
Murray loaded the bases in the top of the sixth on singles by Austin Miller and Kyle Crady and Reese Wilson who was hit by a pitch. Oakley, who earned the win, struck out Andrew Orr looking to end the Tigers threat and leave the three stranded.
It was a good night from the mound for Oakley who struck out 10 and allowed seven hits.
Last week the Marshals split district games against Calloway County, winning Tuesday at home 13-1 but fell to the Lakers on Thursday 11-6. Murray and Calloway will meet for their two district contests next week on May 4th and 6th.
Murray 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2
Marshall 3 0 1 0 0 0 x 4 4 0
Murray: Holcomb 1/2, Miller 2/3, Crady 2/3, Kelly 2/2
Marshall: Mannon 1/3, Ives 1/3, Oakley 1/2 (RBI), Hayden 1/3 (HR, 3 RBI)
Murray: Gibson 6.0 (4 hits, 4 runs, 9 SO)
Marshall: Oakley 6.2 (7 hits, 0 runs, 10 SO), Hayden 0.1 (0 hits, 0 runs)
