< Curtis Leads Chaps to Win Over OCU in Series
June 1, 2011
By: Kelly Robinson, Duster Advisor
The junior righthander went the distance and recorded a complete game as the Chaps defeated LSU-Shreveport 3-0 in the Avista-NAIA World Series contest between the tournament's final two unbeaten squads. Marshall, who pitched with a fractured foot that he suffered back on May 12th, kept the Pilot offense at bay as he recorded just the eighth shutout of the season for the Chaps. Marshall tossed his second shutout of the year, but the first since he managed to defeat Arizona Christian 5-0 back on April 1st.
"The only thing I can tell you is that he simply pitched on guts tonight," said Blackwood of the Chico, CA product by way of Stanford University. "We certainly had no idea he would perform like he did, but when you want something as bad as he did tonight and you put it on the line for your team, it's a big lift to your club."
Marshall got off to a bit of a shaky start, allowing the Pilots to load the bases in the first inning before retiring the side without a run scoring. He only had one other inning where multiple baserunners were on the bags and after the fourth inning LSU-Shreveport didn't get a runner in scoring position.
"I just wanted to come out here and give my team a chance to win," said a humble Marshall, who all season has been a steady pitcher and hitter for the Chaps. "My breaking ball was working really well and our defense did a great job making the plays that we needed."
The Chap offensive attack, though, came up against another outstanding pitching performance as LSUS hurler Jared Mortensen was nearly as solid as Marshall. LCU took advantage of some early game wildness by Mortensen to score a pair of runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first inning. The only other run the LCU offense could muster came in the eighth, but with Marshall (9-0) giving up just three hits and recording eight strikeouts the Chaps had put together enough tallies on the board to remain unbeaten in the tourney.
"Mike looked really, really good in the bullpen that we threw on Monday, so the rest of us (LCU pitchers) knew he was ready to go," said junior relief pitcher Karson Robinson after Monday's practice session. "To see him throw a complete game, though, was unbelievable and just shows how bad he and the rest of this team wants this."
Now the Chaps are among just four remaining teams in the 10-team tourney, but LCU is the lone team that is unbeaten. The tournament committee reset the bracket after games on Tuesday. In the other two contests on Tuesday, Concordia (CA) defeated Oklahoma City University 7-4, while Lee University (TN) handed top-seeded Embry-Riddle (FL) its walking papers with a 7-4 win. Based on that re-draw Concordia and LSU-Shreveport will square off tonight at 5:00 pm (CST) and that game will be followed by the Chaps taking on Lee University at approximately 9:00 pm (CST).
"We'll continue to do what we've done as far as getting ready to play," said Blackwood, who saw his team improve to 49-12 for the season. "Lee is another solid club, so we'll have to focus on what we need to do and I feel like our guys will take the same approach."
It is likely the Chaps will send opening game winner Lucas Whitmore (beat Oklahoma Baptist 7-2 last Friday night) to the mound against Lee on Wednesday night. LCU now has to win two more games to claim the third national title in school history, but that won't be easy against a Lee club that is 49-13 on the year. Tonight's matchup will mark the third year in a row. LCU defeated Lee 11-0 in 2009, but the Flames defeated the Chaps 7-6 in last year's first round contest. Those are the only two meetings between the schools at the World Series.
June 1, 2011
By: Kelly Robinson, Duster Advisor
Marshall Tosses Chaps to Another Series Win
Lewiston, ID - When Lubbock Christian University head baseball coach Nathan Blackwood sent junior pitcher Mike Marshall to the mound here Tuesday night little did he know that would be the final pitching decision he had to make for the night.
Mike Marshall labored on a fractured foot to lead the Chaps to a big win at the NAIA World Series.
"The only thing I can tell you is that he simply pitched on guts tonight," said Blackwood of the Chico, CA product by way of Stanford University. "We certainly had no idea he would perform like he did, but when you want something as bad as he did tonight and you put it on the line for your team, it's a big lift to your club."
Marshall got off to a bit of a shaky start, allowing the Pilots to load the bases in the first inning before retiring the side without a run scoring. He only had one other inning where multiple baserunners were on the bags and after the fourth inning LSU-Shreveport didn't get a runner in scoring position.
"I just wanted to come out here and give my team a chance to win," said a humble Marshall, who all season has been a steady pitcher and hitter for the Chaps. "My breaking ball was working really well and our defense did a great job making the plays that we needed."
The Chap offensive attack, though, came up against another outstanding pitching performance as LSUS hurler Jared Mortensen was nearly as solid as Marshall. LCU took advantage of some early game wildness by Mortensen to score a pair of runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first inning. The only other run the LCU offense could muster came in the eighth, but with Marshall (9-0) giving up just three hits and recording eight strikeouts the Chaps had put together enough tallies on the board to remain unbeaten in the tourney.
"Mike looked really, really good in the bullpen that we threw on Monday, so the rest of us (LCU pitchers) knew he was ready to go," said junior relief pitcher Karson Robinson after Monday's practice session. "To see him throw a complete game, though, was unbelievable and just shows how bad he and the rest of this team wants this."
Now the Chaps are among just four remaining teams in the 10-team tourney, but LCU is the lone team that is unbeaten. The tournament committee reset the bracket after games on Tuesday. In the other two contests on Tuesday, Concordia (CA) defeated Oklahoma City University 7-4, while Lee University (TN) handed top-seeded Embry-Riddle (FL) its walking papers with a 7-4 win. Based on that re-draw Concordia and LSU-Shreveport will square off tonight at 5:00 pm (CST) and that game will be followed by the Chaps taking on Lee University at approximately 9:00 pm (CST).
"We'll continue to do what we've done as far as getting ready to play," said Blackwood, who saw his team improve to 49-12 for the season. "Lee is another solid club, so we'll have to focus on what we need to do and I feel like our guys will take the same approach."
It is likely the Chaps will send opening game winner Lucas Whitmore (beat Oklahoma Baptist 7-2 last Friday night) to the mound against Lee on Wednesday night. LCU now has to win two more games to claim the third national title in school history, but that won't be easy against a Lee club that is 49-13 on the year. Tonight's matchup will mark the third year in a row. LCU defeated Lee 11-0 in 2009, but the Flames defeated the Chaps 7-6 in last year's first round contest. Those are the only two meetings between the schools at the World Series.
