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It now has a midweek matchup with Ohio in Athens before entertaining Appalachian State this weekend at Jack Cook Field.

Pitching was the story for the Herd in its wins over Southern Miss. Bryce Blevins opened the series with a complete game win 4-3. Clint Moak, a true freshman, closed it with a complete game shutout.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe rookie is growing up right in front of our eyes,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Marshall coach Greg Beals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s fun to watch him pitch. Great outing for us and a great series for us here at home.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s got the ability, no doubt about it. Now, that confidence is growing. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s trusting his stuff more as his confidence grows. He commanded the ball all day long. He was able to hit with his off-speed pitches and mix with the fastball enough to keep them off balance.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Moak says himself that the biggest leap he has made to reach his spot as a confident start so quickly is a trust in his stuff. He certainly had it, striking out four and walking two batters in 112 pitches.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œConfidence, a lot of confidence,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Moak said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou have to believe in yourself. You have to believe that you have good stuff. Being confident and knowing that youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re good.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

It spreads to his faith in the defense. Moak threw just four pitches in the sixth inning, and they went like this ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” strike, fly out, fly out, ground out.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf they put the ball in play, I trust them to make the play,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Moak said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI got a lot of confidence in my teammates. The biggest thing is that inning couldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been the difference between me going nine and not going nine. It was a huge inning for me. It was awesome.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

MoakÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s plan of attack was pounding the inside zone. Southern Miss entered the series with more than 290 hits. Marshall held the Golden Eagles to 19 hits across three games.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œInside, really. They donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t like the ball inside. They want to get extended, pull the ball and hit it hard,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Moak said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSo, I just threw them inside.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

It was also the first time that Southern Miss has been shut out this season. It starts with the rest of the fielding for the Herd as it had zero errors. Beals mentioned early last week that he wanted his team to focus in on limiting small mistakes. It did, and this is the payoff.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s been something that hasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t been the sharpest,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Beals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBut we have a great ability to play defense. We were able to execute that this weekend.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

The offense also broke a streak of six straight one-run games on Saturday. Marshall had 10 total hits. Maika Niu hit a home run, and Tyler Kamerer closed an impressive stretch with a 6-of-12 weekend with a triple and a double.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been struggling for the past week with hitting, so for us to come out and put six runs against one of the best teams in the nation is huge,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Moak said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt shows we can show up in big time situations and that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re a really good team.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Beals was pleased with KamererÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s performance.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBig weekend for him, and we like to see that coming along,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Beals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWith him down at the six hole or whatever ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” it creates length in the lineup. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s really critical for our offense.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s midweek game is at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Athens against the Bobcats. The first of three with Appalachian State is at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 11.