CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s Aaron Blair struck out 11 during six innings of no-hit ball and the Thundering Herd routed West Virginia 8-0 on Tuesday in the schools’ first meeting since 1998.
WVU (8-12) managed just two hits overall in its third consecutive loss, while Marshall (9-10) broke the game open with six runs in the first three innings to back Blair.
The Herd’s ace walked the bases loaded in the first before striking out the side to end the Mountaineers’ lone threat.
WVU didn’t have a hit until Bobby Boyd’s eighth-inning infield single off reliever Josh King. Billy Fleming added a ninth-inning double off King, who faned six in recording the three-inning save.
Marshall jumped ahead early as two WVU errors proved costly.
In the first inning, Isaac Ballou scored from second base when WVU shortstop Taylor Munden threw the ball into the stands on what could have been the back end of a double play.
In the second inning, Sergio Leon’s sacrifice fly scored Chase Vogelbach before a throwing error by first baseman Ryan McBroom sent Aaron Bossi home.
A two-run single by Vogelbach highlight Marshall’s three-run third inning.
WVU used six pitchers, beginning with left-handed starter Zach Bargeron (0-1) who was lifted after one inning and allowing one run on four hits with one walk.
The Mountaineers return to Appalachian Power Park this weekend, taking on Big 12 opponent Texas Tech. Game 1 begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, the second game slated for 4 p.m. Saturday. The series concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday.