GREENVILLE, N.C. (MU SID) - Marshall University catcher Tommy Johnson tallied his fifth homer of the year in the top of the ninth, but a three-run home run from third baseman Corey Kemp, and a two-run shot from designated hitter Kyle Roller paced East Carolina to a 7-4 victory over the Thundering Herd in Friday night's Conference USA baseball game at Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

With the loss, Marshall falls to 14-17-1 overall, 4-5-1 in conference action, while East Carolina moves to 24-9 on the season, 6-4 in league play.

Leading 6-3 in the top of the eighth, East Carolina left-handed reliever Josh Ruhlman (who entered in relief in the seventh) pitched the fifth consecutive scoreless inning, fanning a pair of batters in the process.

Herd left-handed reliever Ryan Kiel replaced Andrew Hancock (who came on in the seventh) and loaded the bases before right-hander Ian Kadish entered and gave up an RBI bunt single to second baseman Ryan Wood to give the Pirates a 7-3 lead.

Trailing 7-3, Johnson led off the top of the ninth with a monster shot to center field, his fifth on the season, but Ruhlman sealed the victory, retiring the next three batters in order.

Pirates' starter TJ Hose (2-3) picks up the win, while Marshall starter Andrew Blain (2-3) took the loss in his seventh start (eighth appearance) of the season.

East Carolina plated three runs in the first inning when second baseman Ryan Wood notched a one-out single to left, followed by a double off the bat of left fielder Stephen Batts, sending Wood to third.

Catcher Corey Kemp then cleared the bases with his tenth blast of the year, a shot to deep right field. The Pirates did not plate another run in the stanza as Blain induced a pair of harmless fly outs.

Marshall got the three runs right back in the top of the second when Johnson reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, and then advanced to second on a groundout. Third baseman Brandon Casamassima then reached on an infield single, keeping Johnson at second, before second baseman Kenny Socorro reached on the second throwing error of the inning, scoring Johnson on the play and sending Casamassima to third. Casamassima came around on a throwing error, sending Socorro to second. After a wild pitch sent Socorro to third, shortstop Adam Yeager placed an RBI single into center field before the Pirates induced a fly out for the second out of the inning. Yeager was then picked off at first to end the Herd second to keep the game tied at 3-3.

The Pirates opened up the home half of the second with a pair of singles, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position with one out, Blain hurled a strikeout and forced a fly ball to center field, stranding the runners at second and third.

East Carolina added two runs in the bottom of the third frame when first baseman Brandon Henderson knocked a two-out bunt single down the third base line. Designated hitter Kyle Roller then smacked his seventh long ball of the season to straight away center field. A foul ball fly out to first ended the inning, but East Carolina posted a 5-3 advantage.

Blain settled down and fired two scoreless innings, retiring the next six Pirates in order in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Pirates scored its sixth run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Henderson singled, advanced to second on shortstop Dustin Harrington's one-out single, and then scored when right fielder Jamie Ray singled to left. Blain's fourth strikeout and a groundout kept East Carolina silent for the rest of the inning.

Hose left the game with one-out in the top of the seventh in favor of Ruhlman. Hose allowed three unearned runs on six hits and struck out four while holding the Herd scoreless in five of six innings pitched.

Hancock came on in relief of Blain in the bottom of the seventh and pitched a scoreless frame. Blain pitched six innings of work and gave up six runs on 10 hits while striking out four batters.

Yeager finished with two hits for Marshall while Socorro added his fourth double of the season in the losing effort for the Herd.

Marshall and No. 28 East Carolina will continue series action Saturday, April 12. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Herd right-hander Steve Blevins (4-2) will square off against right-hander Seth Maness (6-0).

The Herd will send Dan Straily (3-2) to the hill in the series finale to take on right-hander Justin Bartow (5-1).