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Local Sports

Long Sox end Marshall’s winning run

Josh Hebrink jhebrink@marshallindependent.com
POSTED: July 23, 2009

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After nearly one month of baseball perfection, the Marshall A's 10-game winning streak finally came to an end Wednesday night when Lamberton rallied in the seventh inning to score four runs and secure a 7-5 decision at Legion Field.

"Obviously you want to keep winning," said Marshall A's coach Sean Culhane, "but this can be a good thing as long as we bounce back and continue to play hard. We have a lot of season left so it only gets better."

The A's held onto a quick 2-0 in the first inning after the first five batters reached base safely.

Marshall's Nate Koppi drove in the game's first run on a blooper that dropped in right field, bringing home Dereck Salisbury. Andrew Kinney scored one batter later when Derek Rignell took a walk to pick up the RBI.

Marshall would add two more runs in the third inning on Bobby Zellman's two-run single that scored Koppi and Rignell, who each singled to begin the rally.

But the bleeding stopped as the A's would only score one more run throughout the remainder of the ball game.

"Our bats definitely slowed down (Thursday)," Culhane said. "We started out well with those four runs early but our sticks kind of died down after that."

The Long Sox, who went five innings with only only base hit, picked up two key opportunities early in the game when Marshall pitcher Derek Rignell found himself in a couple of bases-loaded jams. But Rignell worked out of trouble by getting consecutive inning-ending double plays in the second and third innings.

Rignell seemed to shake the dust off by setting down the Long Sox in order in the fourth and fifth frames, but Lamberton's mayhem broke loose in the sixth and ignited in the seventh.

Down 4-0, the Long Sox began the sixth with three lead-off walks to the load the bases. Rignell managed to retire the next two Long Sox batters, but with two outs, Derrick Jenniges hit a ground ball which caused a throwing error by the A's infield, plating two runs to cut the deficit in half.

"Generally our pitchers do a good job at getting ground balls," said A's shortstop Salisbury. "We just made a couple of errors that really hurt and let (Lamberton) back in the game."

With a bit of momentum, Lamberton came out in the top of the sixth inning by surrendering two quick outs but Lamberton's Donald Strand was the spark plug hitting a double to start the rally. Isaac Jenninges then followed by reaching on an error and Colby Pack proceeded with a single to load the bases.

Looking to do some damage, Long Sox batter's Tyler Reiner and Landon Erickson hit back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game, 4-all.

Jake Wahl then stepped in the clutch and found the gap in left field to bring home Reiner and Pack and put the Long Sox up 6-4.

"We're always looking to come through in opportunities like that," said Lamberton coach Derek Jenniges. "We just hung in there and fortunately good things happened for us."

Rolling with his first lead of the ball game, Lamberton pitcher Mike Samyn shut down the A's offensive attack in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.

Marshall would score in the eighth inning off of Salisbury's sacrifice fly, but an insurance run in the top of the ninth gave Lamberton a 7-5 lead, which proved to be more than enough for Long Sox reliever Tyler Reiner.

"Lamberton's a good team," Culhane said. "They just played our game of baseball better than us tonight."

Salisbury and Koppi led the A's with three singles each.

Lamberton000 002 401-7 7 1

Marshall 202 000 010-5 9 2

L-Colby Pack, Jake Wahl (4), Mike Samyn (6), Tyler Reiner (8)

M-Derek Rignell, Brad Engel (6), Andrew Kinney (8).

WP-Samyn. LP-Rignell. 3B: M-Derek Salisbury. 2B: L-Donald Strand, Pack.

 
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