Marshall Baseball Advance
By Connor Brown, FM88 Sports
April 21, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – The Marshall Thundering Herd (18–22) will welcome the Morehead State Eagles (12–25) to Jack Cook Field on Tuesday, April 22 for the opening game of a midweek home-and-home series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST, with the series concluding Wednesday in Morehead, K.Y.
Tuesday’s contest sets up as a key non-conference battle between two programs looking to build momentum heading into the final month of the regular season.
The Thundering Herd returns home after a hard-fought series against Sun Belt Conference contender Coastal Carolina. Despite the overall record, Marshall has shown flashes of potential, particularly at the plate and in the bullpen.
Junior infielder Maika Niu has been a steady presence in the Marshall lineup, leading the team with 15 multi-hit games and a team-best four triples. Meanwhile, sophomore Elijah Vogelsong continues to demonstrate plate discipline, ranking fourth in the Sun Belt with 31 walks.
On the mound, right-hander Peyton Jackson is expected to make the start for the Herd. The junior has posted 13 strikeouts in 16.2 innings over 14 appearances and will look to provide stability early in the game.
The Eagles enter Tuesday’s matchup with one of the most potent offenses in the Ohio Valley Conference. Morehead State leads the OVC in total hits (368) and home runs (53), while its .319 team batting average ranks 14th nationally.
Leading the offensive charge are senior outfielder Hunter Thomas (.333 AVG, 53 hits) and sophomore infielder Caden Sheridan, who is tied with Thomas for the team lead in doubles (10).
On the bump, junior right-hander Ethan Davis is the projected starter. Davis carries a 2–2 record with 15 strikeouts in 25.1 innings across 11 appearances.
Despite their struggles in the win column, the Eagles’ bats threaten any pitching staff they encounter.
Morehead State holds a 19–8 edge in the all-time series and has won the last five meetings between the two programs. However, Marshall will look to flip the script at home, where it has played with more consistency this season.
Expect an offensive-driven contest, as both teams have proven capable of producing runs in bunches. For Marshall, containing Morehead State’s hot bats and capitalizing on early scoring opportunities will be key to halting the Eagles’ streak.