The 2024 season didn't start as planned for the Marshall baseball program. The Cardinals took a pair of beatings to open things up, 14-1 to Capitol - South rival New Glarus in the opener and 10-0 against Lakeside Lutheran on Tuesday, April 9.
The chance to get back on track came in the form of a trip to Deerfield on Wednesday, April 10. Marshall certainly found its footing offensively. The Cardinals scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to help take home a 12-4 win, their first of the new season.
Things got off to a promising start as Marshall scored in the top of the first inning. Junior catcher Teseo Ruelas led off with a single and advanced all the way to third base with a pair of passed balls. At the plate, senior center fielder Matthew Motl's patience paid off. He launched a sacrifice fly into right field, buying time for Ruelas to motor home for a 1-0 advantage.
Sophomore Brady Kleinheinz got the start on the mound for the Cardinals. Deerfield immediately loaded the bases on him with no outs on the board in the bottom of the first inning, but he escaped any damage with three straight pop outs.
After a scoreless second inning, Marshall doubled its advantage in the top of the third. With two outs on the board already, Motl sparked a rally with a double to right field. Junior Carson Connelly brought him home with a stipe to center field, increasing the lead to 2-0.
Kleinheinz was able to hold off the Deerfield offense until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Demons drew three walks and got another free base on a hit by pitch. A Marshall error and a single to left field helped Deerfield score four runs in the inning to go ahead 4-2.
Undeterred, Marshall's offense turned right around and had its best inning of the game. The Cardinals opened with five straight singles, courtesy of senior Jackson Neuberger, sophomore Garret Shepler, Ruelas, Motl, and Connelly. Motl and Connelly's hits both drove in runs as Marshall knotted the game at four runs each. The Cardinals weren't done.
With the bases loaded, junior Mitchell Pletcher drew a walk to restore the Marshall lead, 5-4. The runs just kept coming. In the next at-bat, Kleinheinz slapped one to the shortstop. The fielder's choice went to first base, but Kleinheinz arrived safely as Motl scored. Freshman Logan Ney put an exclamation mark on the successful inning with a two-run shot to left field, leaving his Cardinals with an 8-4 advantage.
Ruelas and Kleinheinz swapped defensive spots in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ruelas was nearly untouchable on the mound, closing out the final three innings of the game with only two hits allowed. Deerfield did not score again as he struck out three batters.
Marshall's bats stayed hot and gave Ruelas plenty of breathing room. The Cardinals marked up two more runs in the top of both the sixth and seventh innings.
Ruelas kicked off the fun in the sixth inning by reaching on an error, followed by a single from Motl. Connelly may have struck out in the next at-bat, but a passed ball brought Ruelas home and pushed Motl to third base. Motl soon scored, as well, as Pletcher grounded a single to left field.
With a 10-4 lead already in hand, the Cardinals kept it cooking in the top of the seventh inning. Junior Maddux Anacker led off by drawing a walk. The next two batters struck out, but Ruelas breathed new life into the inning with a single to center field. Motl was next, smashing a single to left field to bring Anacker home. Connelly followed the same script in the ensuing at-bat, bringing in courtesy runner Kyan Biwersi to bring the game to its final score, 12-4.
The victory is Marshall's first under new head coach Sam Hernandez. The Cardinals now have a 1-2 record and will have one more chance to build on that this week. They'll head to Columbus on Thursday, April 11 for a non-conference game.
Next week, Marshall returns to Capitol - South competition with a series against Belleville. They'll travel to the Wildcats on Tuesday, April 16 and host them on Thursday, April 18.
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