Herd falls to Houston in C-USA baseball

HOUSTON -- The Houston Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk away with a 7-3 victory over Marshall on Friday night at Cougar Field in Houston.

Ryan Lormond had a two-run single to give Houston (33-21, 13-10 Conference USA) the lead for good, but the Cougars tacked on three more runs to give cushion for its bullpen in the final innings.

Marshall's bullpen got a little wild in the seventh inning, allowing the five runs while giving up just three hits. Three walks, two wild pitches and an error contributed to the Herd's downfall.

The Herd led 2-1 after scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Nate Lape, who finished 4-for-4, led off with a double and scored following Victor Gomez's single and a throwing error on Houston third baseman Bryan Pounds.

After a pair of outs, Brandon Cassamassima doubled to right field, scoring Gomez, but Houston came back in the bottom of the frame and tied the game following another Herd miscue. After Zak Presley reached on an error and stole second, Bryan Tully singled home Presley to knot the game before the Cougars took the lead for good one frame later.

The loss spoiled a terrific outing by Marshall starter Dan Straily, who gave up two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Andrew Hancock took the loss after allowing four runs in just 2/3 inning.

Jeff Rowley added a home run for Marshall (26-27-1, 10-12-1), who outhit the Cougars 10-8.

The teams will meet at 1 p.m. today to wrap up the regular season of Conference USA play. Marshall is now guaranteed of the No. 6 seed in the Conference USA Championship, which starts next week in New Orleans, La.