HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Chase Boster struck out a career-high 11 batters to lead Marshall past FIU, 5-3, in the first round of the Conference USA Championship at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss.
With the loss the Panthers (28-28) drop into the losers' bracket and face Old Dominion in an elimination game Thursday at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
FIU got off to a rousing start when Eddie Silva drilled the first pitch of the game off Boster over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. However, Boster (8-3) settled down and retired the next 12 FIU batters.
The Thundering Herd (33-19) evened the score against FIU starter Chris Mourelle (6-6) with a solo home run by Aaron Bossi in the bottom of the second inning.
Marshall took the lead with a three-run third inning that included a two-run home run by Ryne Dean to make it 4-1.
Mourelle went seven innings, allowed nine hits, five runs and struck out a season-high eight batters.
The Panthers got within a run after scoring two runs in the top of the fifth. Nick Day led off the inning with a double to right center to snap Boster's string of 12 consecutive batters retired. Austin Rodriguez drove Day in on a fielder's choice. Kolby Follis tripled home Rodriguez. But it was as close as the Panthers would get.
FIU will send Cody Crouse to the mound against ODU on Thursday. The Monarchs swept the Panthers earlier this season. Thursday's game can be heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.
