BECKLEY, West Va. -- Marshall scored six runs in the bottom of the third inning to snap a tie with FIU as the Thundering Herd took the first game of a three-game series, 22-6, over the Panthers Friday afternoon at Epling Stadium.

The Herd is now 19-19 overall and 8-8 in Conference USA play. The Panthers are 23-16 on the season and 8-8 in conference games.

With the score tied 1-1, Marshall sent nine men to the plate against FIU starter Nick MacDonald in the third. Tommy Lane's two-run single to right with the bases loaded put the Herd on top 3-1. Cory Garrastazu had a two-run double and Leo Valenti's two-run home run capped off the scoring in the third that gave Marshall a 7-1 lead.

MacDonald (6-1) went 3 2/3 innings, allowed nine hits, six earned runs and struck out eight batters.

Joshua Shapiro (2-4) pitched five innings, allowed five hits and four runs to record the win for the Herd.

Jack Schaaf was 3 for 5 with two RBI for FIU. Zack Soria and Zach Files each had two hits.

The Panthers and Herd resume the series Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. There is no video or radio broadcast for the three-game series but live in-game updates are available on Twitter: @FIUBaseball.