BECKLEY, W.Va. — Marshall scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and rallied to defeat West Virginia 6-5 and take the season series.
Marshall trailed 5-3 when Andrew Dundon led off with a double to center, Grey Stafford walked and Isaac Ballou singled to load the bases with nobody out. Nathan Gomez drew The Herd to within a run, with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Mountaineers pitcher Josh Harlow caught Eric Escobedo looking for the second out of the inning. But just when it looked like WVU might be able to wiggle out of the jam, Alfredo Brito doubled into the right-field gap for the tying and go-ahead runs.
Matt Humel and Josh King retired WVU in order in the eighth and ninth innings to seal the win for Marshall (20-31).
Ballou paced Marshall at the plate, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three runs and stolen base.
Marshall starter Alex Thackston was roughed up early on and did not make it out of the second inning. He allowed a run on one hit in the first, and things got worse in WVU’s three-run second inning.
So, Marshall coach Jeff Waggoner turned to the bullpen and got an excellent outing out of freshman Chase Boster. The 6-foot-4 right-hander from Stafford, Va., worked five shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out three along the way.
It will now be a quick turnaround for The Herd, which travels to Houston to take on No. 20 Rice in the final three games of the regular season.
Heading into the weekend, Marshall has a one game lead over UAB for the final spot in the C-USA tournament. The Blazers finish the season on the road at Tulane.