CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Thundering Herd got a dominant performance from senior right-hander Chase Boster on the mound Friday night, who went the distance in a 5-1 win over UAB.
In his first complete game for the Herd, Boster allowed just one run on seven hits and recorded four strikeouts.
“It starts with Chase [Boster] and it ends with Chase [Boster]. He’s been having those performances for a while,” said coach Jeff Waggoner.
“He’s a great senior, and going out there on a Friday night and doing what he did was important.”
UAB’s lone run came in the first inning. Brewer Hicklen doubled down the leftfield line and came around to score on an RBI single by Carter Pharis. From that point, the Blazers were held scoreless.
Marshall took the lead for good with a three-run second inning. Ryne Dean led off the inning with his second homerun of the season, a solo shot over the right field wall. Marshall used small ball to plate two more runs in the inning. Leo Valenti laid down a squeeze bunt to score Sam Finfer. Later, Corey Bird’s RBI single scored Cory Garrastazu to give Marshall a 3-1 lead.
“It wasn’t the greatest offensive day for us, but it took the whole team to win. Leo [Valenti] put down a bunt to score a runner. It was good to see Corey [Bird] have a couple hits, and then the big hit by Ryne [Dean]. The team found a way to win the game, they played great defense and Chase [Boster] did what he does.”
The Herd tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Boster kept the UAB hitters off balance, giving up one walk and not allowing a hit over the final three innings.
Marshall improved to 25-17 overall and 14-8 in Conference USA with the win.
Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon. Park Danciu (3-3, 6.28 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Herd. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park.