CHARLESTON, W.Va – Marshall baseball dropped the third and final game of its series with Southern Miss on a cold and rainy Saturday by a score of 3-2 at Appalachian Power Park.

With the loss, the Herd moves to 10-8 overall, and 1-2 in C-USA play. The Golden Eagles move to 16-5 overall, and 2-1 in C-USA play.

Rain began falling around the 2nd inning, and continued for most of the game. This aided a pitcher’s duel.

Southern Miss broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the 5th inning when designated hitter Hunter Slater hit a solo home run to right field to give itself a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the seventh when second baseman Storme Cooper hit an RBI double down the right field line off relief pitcher Joshua Shapiro.

Marshall’s bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh, when with one out, second baseman Aaron Bossi singled for the Herd’s third hit of the day. In the ensuing at-bat Reynaldo Pastrana hit a two-run home run. It was his first homer of the season. With the score tied at two, right fielder Robert Fajardo doubled on the next pitch. He would be stranded at second.

Southern Miss responded in the top of the eighth when its first two batters reached, followed by an RBI double by catcher Chuckie Robinson, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead. After an intentional walk, Van Fleet responded by forcing a flyout and a strikeout, preventing further damage.

Marshall could not muster any further offense in its final three at bats. In the ninth, with two outs, pinch hitter Billy Sager reached base on a walk. In the next at-bat, pinch hitter Sam Finfer flied out, ending the game.

For the Golden Eagles, Nick Sandin claimed the win. Heston Van Fleet (0-1) picked up the loss for the Herd in relief. Marshall’s starter, senior JD Hammer, went six innings, giving up five hits and one earned run. He had four strikeouts.

At the plate, junior Tommy Lane hit a double down the first base line in the fourth inning to extend his hit streak to 16 games. Senior DJ Gee picked up two hits for the Herd as well.

Up next, the Herd returns to action on Tuesday at the Kennedy Center Field in Huntington, W.Va. against Eastern Kentucky.

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