The Marshall baseball team wasn't intimidated by Worthington ace Lucas Henning, who came into Tuesday's Southwest Conference game with two no-hitters under his belt already this season. The Tigers roughed up the future Minnesota State-Mankato Maverick for six runs on eight hits through 4 1/3 innings, but they let their effort go to waste.
Worthington struck for four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 6, then strung together three straight singles to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth before a walk-off walk gave the Trojans a 7-6 home victory.
Tigers head coach Steve Fleck said his team exhibited the same problems Tuesday as it has in previous games this season.
"We just have to learn to play a full game," said Fleck, whose team drops to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference. "It was just that one inning again. The same thing against LQPV, the same thing against Pipestone.
"This is a game we should have put a fork in and we didn't. It's almost like we just got too comfortable. We were missing assignments, missing cut-off throws, just not doing the little things right through the game and it came back and hurt us."
Alex Fenske got the start for Marshall, giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. He had eight strikeouts and three walks. Aaron Mathiowetz came on in the seventh inning and took the loss. He had two strikeouts and two walks.
Fenske held Worthington scoreless through the first four innings, and Fleck said he couldn't have asked for much more from his starter.
"I think anybody who was watching that game would have said that we had the better pitcher," Fleck said. "Alex pitched great. He was just cruising. He started the seventh inning only throwing 59 pitches."
Marshall was led offensively by Mason Schnaible, who went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple. Leo Zerr also had a double for the Tigers.
Henning went 2-for-5 at the plate with a double, as did the Trojans' Tommy Hayenga.
Worthington improves to 3-0 in the conference and 5-0 overall following Tuesday's win. The Trojans will have a non-conference game at Adrian on Thursday.
Marshall resumes SWC action Thursday with a doubleheader against Windom Area at Legion Field.
Marshall002 040 00-6 12 1
Worthington 000 011 41-7 13 2
MAR-Alex Fenske, Aaron Mathiowetz (7). WOR-Lucas Henning, Nate Jensen (5), Deron Soderholm (7). WP-Soderholm. LP-Mathiowetz. 3B: MAR-Mason Schnaible. 2B: MAR-Schnaible, Leo Zerr; WOR-Henning, Tommy Hayenga.