Tallahassee, Fl. (February 18th, 2018) - Errors hurt the Rattlers on Sunday, as they lost the final game of their three-game series with Marshall University.
The Thundering Herd started scoring early, putting two runs on the board in the first inning, thanks to an RBI single by Shane Hanon and a sacrifice fly by Reynaldo Pastrana. Marshall added another run in the second inning when Geordon Blanton scored on a play in which Erik Rodriguez was caught stealing at second base. Tucker Linder drove in Reynaldo Pastrana in the third to make the score 4-0.
After two scoreless innings by FAMU starting pitcher Dallas Oliver, Marshall's Shane Hanon continued to help his team, this time with a solo homerun to left center field.
Chandellor Benton entered the game to pitch in the sixth inning, recording one out before giving way to freshman Deven Shulstad. Marshall added two more runs, with Peter Hutzal scoring on a passed ball, and Andrew Zban driving in Geordon Blanton on a sacrifice fly to right field. Thomas Nicoll came in to finish the inning for FAMU, and delivered scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.
The Rattlers brought in Josh Barr to pitch the ninth inning, and the Thundering Herd tacked on two more runs. Erik Rodriguez scored on an error by shortstop John Capra, and Reynaldo Pastrana drove in Shane Hanon on a sacrifice fly to make the score 9-0.
The FAMU offense was quiet all day, failing to put any runs on the board, and only managing three hits. Marshall starting pitcher Will Ray turned in 4.2 innings, with Joshua Shapiro closing out the fifth inning. Gordon Cardenas pitched two scoreless innings and Riley Storedahl and Matt Reed threw one scoreless inning a piece.
FAMU starting pitcher Dallas Oliver got the loss, despite giving up only three earned runs through five innings of work. Joshua Shapiro was credited with the win for Marshall University.
The Rattlers will look to get back on track this Tuesday, February 20th, at 6:00 PM at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
