Taylor Sandefur, MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s baseball pitching coach for the last three seasons, has been hired by Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana.
The move was reported first by D1Baseball.
Sandefur was named Thundering Herd pitching coach in 2022 after four seasons at Western Carolina as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.
In 2025, Marshall pitching was led by Griffin MillerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 3.46 ERA, holding a 7-4 record with 71 strikeouts. Clint Moak and Bryce Blevins were also rotational pieces for Marshall. Moak held a 5.46 ERA with 47 strikeouts, while Blevins posted a 6.14 ERA with 49 strikeouts.
The Herd finished the season in the SBC semifinals. Marshall played Louisiana twice in the SBC tournament and won both times ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” 9-5 and 17-13.
The carousel started spinning when Gunner Leger, LouisianaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s pitching coach last season, moved on to conference rival Southern Miss.
Marshall had the seventh-best improvement in wins in Division I last season, going from 18-37 to 33-26 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” a 15-victory increase.
Big hitter to the Hogs
Another tough blow for Marshall baseball came with the announcement that Maika Niu is transferring to Arkansas.
Niu hit six homers in six games late last season and posted a stretch in which he had nine homers, a double, a triple and a game-winning single in 10 games.
Niu started 54 games in his only season with the Herd, with a .276 average, 63 hits, 12 doubles, five triples, 14 homers and 48 RBIs. Before Marshall, Niu spent two seasons at New Orleans.
Niu has propelled himself into the MLB Draft consideration with his play in the Cape Cod Baseball League. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s hit 18 home runs in his last 31 games, including his time at Marshall.
Niu leads the CCBL with 24 hits, seven homers, 17 RBIs, two doubles and a triple in 18 games.
The news was confirmed by FalmouthÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s social media pages, the team for which Niu plays on Cape Cod. Niu is not listed on MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 2026 roster.
Replenishing the Herd
Marshall coach Greg Beals has touted incoming freshmen on social media.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have six incoming freshmen joining the Herd,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Beals wrote on X. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAll six were named players of the year in their conference, and these three were named state players of the year. The future is bright.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The post referred to Braylon Cordonnier, Grant Jolly and Hunter Richardson. All three were named state players of the year in Ohio.
Cordonnier played for Russia High School and held a .444 average last season with a .602 OBP. He had six doubles, two triples and six home runs with 32 runs and 18 RBIs. On the mound, he also held a wicked 0.72 ERA.
Jolly and Richardson were named co-players of the year by PrepBaseballOhio in Division III.
Jolly, of Wapakoneta High School, threw 62 innings and posted a 1.01 ERA with a 7-3 record. He struck out 96 batters. At the plate, he hit .481 with a .613 OBP, tallying six doubles, three triples, a home runs and 16 RBIs. He also drew 26 walks and stole 23 bases.
Richardson, of Butler High School, went 59 2/3 innings and held a 9-0 record with a save. His 1.17 ERA was accompanied by 108 strikeouts and just 21 walks. At the plate, he averaged .426 with 14 doubles, six triples, three homers, four runs and 29 RBIs. He also stole 18 bases.
Upcoming camps
Beals is also hosting his Bealsy Ball Baseball Camps throughout this month.
Hit with the Herd Camps will be active on July 14, July 21 and July 28 and are open to ages 13-18. All camps are held from 6-7:30 p.m.
A Bealsy Ball Youth Camp is slated for July 28-30 for ages 6-12, held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on those dates.
And a final Bealsy Ball Prospect Camp, open to all, is planned for Aug. 31. It is open for grades 9-12 and will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that date.
More information about all camps can be found on , as well as the Bealsy Ball Baseball Camps X page.
