HUNTINGTON Ƶ Maika Niu belted a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Marshall to a big Sun Belt Conference win, 10-8, over Georgia Southern in front of 1,612 appreciative Thundering Herd fans on Thursday night at Jack Cook Field.
Niu took the team lead in homers with 11 and RBIs with 42. He now has gone deep in seven straight games.
His blast rescued the Herd, which led 8-2 after four innings and clinched its first SBC Tournament berth in three years. The tournament is scheduled for next week in Montgomery, Alabama.
ƵIn the eighth, I knew I would come up,Ƶ Niu said. ƵI wanted to do it. I knew I had the streak. It was in the back of my mind. I did it.Ƶ
The Eagles (27-27, 13-15 SBC) got a two-run single by JP Herrholz in the seventh and solo homer by Cade Parker in the eighth to get even at 8-8 after trailing early. Parker and Josh Tate are tied for the team lead in homers with 12 each. They did the damage off Herd reliever Charlie Krebbs. He got the win thanks to NiuƵs homer, and Nicholas Weyrich worked the ninth for his fifth save.
Niu kind of laughed a bit when asked if he thought Georgia Southern would pitch around him since heƵs on such a tear.
ƵThey can try to pitch around,Ƶ Niu said. ƵI got up, got to hit it. We competed. ThatƵs what we talked about. We fell asleep in the middle innings, but we came back. WeƵre battling for sixth to avoid the play-in game. This oneƵs huge. Whoever wins the series, to get a bye day is huge in tournament play.Ƶ
Marshall (29-24, 14-14 SBC) and Georgia Southern meet in Game 2 of the final series of the regular season on Friday at 6 p.m. The finale is Saturday at 2 p.m.
Marshall extended its winning streak to four after getting a sweep at Georgia State last weekend and scoring 39 runs in the three games.
Marshall coach Greg Beals said NiuƵs streak of homers is deserving because of preparation.
ƵHeƵs seeing (the ball) really well,Ƶ Beals said. ƵHeƵs figured it out how heƵs getting pitched. HeƵs able to stay on the breaking ball. WeƵve really grown offensively. Not just Maika. Great approach by the whole team. Struck out just three times tonight. Put the ball in play, hit it hard, scored early to set the tempo and give (starter) Bryce (Blevins) and the staff some room.
"Give Georgia Southern credit. They fought back and got in there. We answered. We never give up. Just competed. Competitive toughness is one of our core values and weƵre living it right now. From a coaching standpoint, itƵs fun to watch.Ƶ
A big play for Marshall came in the top of the fourth. Sean Smith ripped a double to right center and Jack Myers, on first at the time, tried to score. Right fielder Jackson Halter ran the ball down and made a relay to cutoff man Tyler Kamerer, who then fired the ball home. The throw went up the third-base line, but catcher Nolan Wilson grabbed it and made a swipe tag on the leg of a sliding Meyers.
He was called out, and after the check of the replay, the call stood.
ƵThat was huge,Ƶ Beals said. ƵItƵs an out to end the inning or a run. Jackson did a good job of grabbing the ball off the wall with his bare hand. He hit the cutoff man. That throw was a little up the line, but our catcher made a great tag. The umpire was in position to see where (the tag) took place. Give our guys credit. We give them systems and they executed tonight.Ƶ
Beals admitted scoreboard watching is on the HerdƵs to-do list now. Marshall placed 14th in the league in 2023 and 13th in 2024. Georgia Southern needs a win Friday or Saturday to keep alive its streak of appearing in every tournament since joining the Sun Belt ahead of the 2015 season.
Marshall started the final home series as one of seven teams up for five spots in the SBC Tournament. In addition to the Eagles, the others battling for a trip to Montgomery are Texas State, Arkansas State, Appalachian State, South Alabama and Georgia State.
James Madison won 9-4 at Texas State to place the Herd in sixth alone for now. Texas State, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State are tied at 13-15. Spots seven through 10 meet in first-day single-elimination games.
ƵI will scoreboard watch for sure,Ƶ Beals said. ƵWeƵre sure weƵre headed to Montgomery. It would mean a lot to get that first-round bye. IƵll keep checking. I want to give this ball club the best chance.Ƶ
Saturday will be Senior Day for the Herd. Players to be recognized before the game include Tim Baird, Fenix DiGiacomo, Eddie Leon, Alex McKay, Elijah Vogelsong, Weyrich and Wilson.
Georgia StateƵs Josh Tate, who led the Sun Belt with a .365 average entering the game, had a 3-for-5 night. Nico Senese also had three hits and Parker drove in three runs.
Halter plated three runs for the Herd and Eddie Leon enjoyed a 4-for-5 night with two RBIs, along with NiuƵs two RBIs. Marshall finished with 15 hits and the Eagles had 14.
