CUSA Snapshot
With only two days remaining in regular season play, some shuffling occurred at the top of the standings and another team punched its ticket to the CUSA Championship next week. Marshall moved into a tie for first with No. 13 Southern Miss after knocking off Old Dominion 5-3 behind Chase Boster’s complete game. Marshall took advantage of Southern Miss’ slipup after the Eagles fell to FIU, 6-5 in 10 innings. The Panthers scored the winning run on a wild pitch after Zach Soria tripled in the final frame and scored on the wild pitch.
The win not only helped Marshall move up in the standings, but also punched the Panthers’ ticket to next weeks’ CUSA Championship in Hattiesburg, leaving only one spot remaining for Charlotte and UAB to claim.
UAB snapped a nine game losing streak yesterday after knocking off Charlotte 2-1. However, if Charlotte wins either of the next two games with UAB, the 49ers are headed south.
1. Southern Miss 20-8
2. Marshall 20-8
3. FAU 19-8
4. Rice 19-8
5. La. Tech 17-11
6. ODU 14-14
7. FIU 13-15
8. Charlotte 11-16
9. UAB 11-17
10. WKU 10-18
11. UTSA 7-20
12. MTSU 5-23
(BOLD- Clinched to CUSA CHAMPIONSHIP)
What They Said
“Anytime you win, you’ve got to be happy. I thought we pitched well. I was surprised they didn’t walk Frank, because he was having a good night, but I’m thankful that they didn’t.” - FAU Head Coach John McCormack on the Owls 12th inning walk-off win over WKU.
"Well, it all starts with Chase Boster. He's been Friday night guy since his freshman year. He did a great job just staying in the game and keeping us there. Going all nine innings on Thursday is huge. I wouldn't have expected anything else from Chase. He's been a bulldog, and his pitchability is amazing. We look forward to every time he is throwing for us." –Marshall Head Coach Jeff Waggoner after his program picked up win number 31 to set a new program record behind Boster’s second complete game of the season.
"Coach [Jake] Wells did a great job with our offense and getting our hitters prepared to face one of the best guys in the league. I thought our guys really executed tonight. We had some great at bats and battled with two strikes. We didn't give in. Our guys really competed against a big time arm." –La. Tech Head Coach Greg Goff said after his Bulldogs dispatched No. 16 Rice 12-2.
Looking Ahead
Marshall and Southern Miss have secured a spot in the top four in next week’s CUSA Championship and a Rice and FAU win or La. Tech loss will lock the top half. The Bulldogs can reach no higher than a three seed and can fall no lower than the fifth spot it currently occupies. Meanwhile, ODU holds only a one game lead over FIU, but owns the tiebreaker after sweeping the Panthers earlier this season. Charlotte can move to as high as seventh, but only if it receives a significant amount of help from the teams above it in the standings.
