Here's some stat comparisons of how we match up with Marshall stat wise:

Games played: 21 to 18
Team batting avg: .300 to .244
Runs scored: 174 (8.3 per game) to 101 (5.6)
HR: 26 to 14
SB: 22 of 31 to 13 of 15
Batting K/BB/HBP: 163/104/27 to 158/64/12
Team ERA: 3.69 to 5.25
Runs allowed: 89 (4.23 per game) to 120 (6.67)
HR allowed: 11 to 15
Pitching K/BB/HBP: 195/62/27 to 134/87/20
SB allowed: 16 of 21 to 13 of 18
batting avg allowed: .247 to .295

Based off this Marshall isn't a great hitting ballclub in terms of avg or power. They don't run much but when they do they are very successful.

Pitching wise doesn't appear much better. They've walked 25 more batters than our pitchers in 3 less games so it appears if we can be patient our hitters should be able to outlast their pitching.

Individual batting wise, Marshall has 3 guys with good power as those 3 have hit 11 (5,3 and 3) of their 14 HRs but one of the ones that has 3 HRs is only hitting .193 so it's almost like HR or bust for him. They've got 4 hitters over .250 and all 4 of those are above .300 too. Only 2 players (ratliff and finfer) have more than 10 RBI each.
Pitching wise Martin appears to be their ace as he's 2-1 in 5 starts with a 2.45 ERA in 25 innings of work. Interestingly their only 3 pitchers with more than 2 starts each have all pitched less than 26 innings each so they don't last more than 5 innings on average...Martin 5 starts and 25.2 innings, Murphy 5 starts and 24 innings, and lastly Sharpiro 4 starts/1 relief and 22.1 innings. They do have 2 pitchers that have Sandlin/Wallner like numbers but with smaller innings worked in Ray and Ratliff. Combined they have 6 appearances with 1 being a start, 12 innings, 15 K to 4 BB and allowed 1 unearned run.

Individual stat leaders for Marshall through the first 18 games:

Will Ray - .353, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3-4 SB, started 15 games of 17 games he's played in
Billy Sager - .320, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1-1 SB, started 7 of 10 games
Tyler Ratliff - .319, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 1-2 SB, started 17 games
Sam Finfer - .302, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 1-1 SB, started 16 games
Reynaldo Pastrana - .193, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0-0 SB, started 15 games
Only 2 players (Lane and Valenti) have started all 18 games each and they are hitting .241 and .242 repspectively with a combined 0 HR and 14 RBI.

Joshua Shapiro: 1-2, 3.63 ERA, 4 starts and 1 relief, 22.1 IP, 18 K, 10 BB (started game 1 last weekend)
Wade Martin: 2-1, 2.45 ERA, 5 starts, 25.2 IP, 26 K, 11 BB (started game 2 last weekend)
Patrick Murphy: 1-0, 4.88 ERA, 5 starts, 24 IP, 15 K, 9 BB (started game 3 last weekend)
Will Ray: 1-0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 2 relief app and 1 start, 8 IP, 8 K, 2 BB (plays in the field as well, see 1st batter listed)
Tyler Ratliff: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 relief app, 4 IP, 7 K, 2 BB (plays in the field as well, see batter #3)

Need to break out the brooms again this weekend. Hoping the staff can keep the players hungry, focused, and sharp.

Looks like we'll be dodging rain Saturday AM. They may have to move it back a couple of hours.

Odds and ends schedule related:

Marshall is 10-8 overall and 2-1 in CUSA with a current RPI of 117
They started 1-5 but have gone 9-3 since
They've won game 3 in all 4 weekend series they've played this year
In their last 12 games they've scored 9 or more runs in 6 of those
They took 2 of 3 from UTSA at home last weekend
They lost 7-1 at Tennessee last night (Wednesday)
Wins vs current RPI #58 Niagra (X2) and at #71 Western Carolina
Marshall has won 6 straight C-USA series. The streak dates back to mid-April 2016

They lost a ton from last year with Boster, their closer, and two other starters.

Feel like Marshall always has 1-2 guys that can mash.

Surprised Lane hasn't homered yet.

Baseball series is now a DH beginning at 4 pm on Friday with the final game no earlier than 2:00 PM Saturday or 11 AM Sunday depending on the weather Saturday.

(03-23-2017 04:12 PM)usm99 Wrote:  Baseball series is now a DH beginning at 4 pm on Friday with the final game no earlier than 2:00 PM Saturday or 11 AM Sunday depending on the weather Saturday.

I like the way the admin is adjusting to the weather....completely makes sense in the local arena with the ability to forecast within a 3 day cycle....

#smartplanning

#fanswin

(03-23-2017 04:17 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 04:12 PM)usm99 Wrote:  Baseball series is now a DH beginning at 4 pm on Friday with the final game no earlier than 2:00 PM Saturday or 11 AM Sunday depending on the weather Saturday.

I like the way the admin is adjusting to the weather....completely makes sense in the local arena with the ability to forecast within a 3 day cycle....

#smartplanning

#fanswin

With rain chances Saturday being in the 70-90% from 9 am to at least 3 PM, I don't see them starting any earlier than 4:00 PM on Saturday. In all likelihood it would make sense to let the rain clear out and just play game 3 Sunday morning.

(03-23-2017 04:21 PM)usm99 Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 04:17 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-23-2017 04:12 PM)usm99 Wrote:  Baseball series is now a DH beginning at 4 pm on Friday with the final game no earlier than 2:00 PM Saturday or 11 AM Sunday depending on the weather Saturday.

I like the way the admin is adjusting to the weather....completely makes sense in the local arena with the ability to forecast within a 3 day cycle....

#smartplanning

#fanswin

With rain chances Saturday being in the 70-90% from 9 am to at least 3 PM, I don't see them starting any earlier than 4:00 PM on Saturday. In all likelihood it would make sense to let the rain clear out and just play game 3 Sunday morning.

agree...should be announced as such....it makes the most 'cents' and sense....

Rotation this weekend is McCarty, Keys, Roberts (in that order). Slight change.

That's interesting. I assume he wants to keep Roberts in the Saturday mindset? On the other hand, Keys has been a bit more consistent.

Didn't realize that we were 19-1 all time vs Marshall in Hattiesburg with a 12 game home win streak vs them...this from Jason Munz article in today's Hattiesburg American

USM is 11-1 at home this season and combined with last season is 39-5 at The Pete
USM has won 13 straight weekend series at home going back to the last 2 home series of the 2015 season

Let's hope all of these trends continue today at 4:00 PM

Game 1 video stream

http://xrxs.net/player/?hls=http://cbsic...aster.m3u8

Keating solo HR USM 1-0 bottom 1

2 on, no outs, bottom 2nd

Guess I Juan Cocks'ed that one....Eagles score NADA....1-0 after 2 complete

I just do not understand bunting your hottest hitter in the second inning unless you are expecting a serious pitchers' duel....especially in order to set up your #9 hitter who strikes out a lot

Surprised to see Irby dropped to 8th in the order. Is Gametracker right on that?

(03-24-2017 04:39 PM)eaglenjxn Wrote:  I just do not understand bunting your hottest hitter in the second inning unless you are expecting a serious pitchers' duel....especially in order to set up your #9 hitter who strikes out a lot

Surprised to see Irby dropped to 8th in the order. Is Gametracker right on that?

You forgot to mention with the wind blowing out to left at about 25 mph. Would be very surprised this is a pitching duel. Pop ups to left will drift out. But you are right. You don't bunt the 8 hole to get to the 9 hole....with the wind blowing out 25 mph to left.