Marshall got all 14 of its hits from the top five spots in its batting order against FIU pitching Friday night. The Herd also received an effective performance from left-hander Parker Danciu to spark a 5-4 win over the Panthers at the FIU ballpark.

DJ Gee was 5 for 5 with two RBI, missing the cycle by a home run to lead the Thundering Herd (12-9, 2-3 Conference USA) to a win that evens the three-game series with the Panthers (12-14, 2-3 C-USA).

FIU just missed walking-off with a win in the bottom of the ninth inning. After Eddie Silva reached on an infield single with two outs, Kenny Meimerstorf drove a hanging curveball from Herd closer Burris Warner to the wall in left field where Cory Garrastazu made the catch for the final out of the game.

The Herd snapped a 4-4 tie in the top of the eighth inning. Leo Valenti reached base on an error, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Corey Bird and scored on Gee's fifth hit of the night – a single to center off Dominic LoBrutto (1-1).

Caleb Ross (1-1) retired the only batter he faced in the seventh to record the win. Warner pitched two scoreless innings to notch his fifth save. Danciu went 6 1/3 innings, allowed three runs and struck out six batters.

The Panthers took a brief 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Down 2-1, FIU tied the score on an RBI single by Silva after Zach Files led off the inning with a double off the right field wall. Silva scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Danciu.

Silva led FIU going 4 for 5. Files, Meimerstorf and Jack Schaaf each had two hits. Austin Rodriguez hit his first home run of the season in the second inning – a solo shot to left.

Marshall and FIU play the rubber game of the three-game series Saturday at 3 p.m. The game can be seen on PantherVision and heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.