Marshall jumped out to a seven-run lead in the first three innings and secured an 8-1 win over Western Kentucky on Friday afternoon in Huntington, W.Va.

The Thundering Herd improved to 19-14 overall and 7-6 in Conference USA action, while the Hilltoppers fell to 15-16-1 overall and 7-5-1 in C-USA.

Righty Collin Lollar started for WKU, allowing six earned runs on six walks and three hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched. One of those hits was a two-run home run by shortstop Elvis Peralta with two outs in the third to make it 4-0.

Marshall added three more in the third against Lollar and reliever Eric Crawford to push its lead to 7-0.

Richard Constantine accounted for the Hilltoppers’ first tally with a solo home run to lead off the fourth, his third homer in the past four games.

Only one more Thundering Herd player crossed home against Crawford, and that was in the fifth when a two-out pop fly by Peralta fell between three WKU fielders for a double. Overall, Crawford fired 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks.

The Hilltoppers threatened in the eighth when Nick Brunson led off with a hit, then Aidan Elias and Jack Wilson followed with walks to load the bases with no outs against starter Joshua Shapiro.

With one out against reliever Bryan Callaly, Jake Sanford rolled an infield single to bring home Brunson for his 47th run batted in of the season. The next WKU hitter up, Dillon Nelson, lined into an unassisted double play by the Marshall shortstop to end the threat.

WKU righty Reese Brewer fired a 1-2-3 eighth frame with a strikeout. The righty from Arlington, Tenn., has not allowed a run in 3 2/3 innings across five appearances so far this year.

Due to weather concerns Sunday, the Hilltoppers and Thundering Herd will cap the series with a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch from Kennedy Center Field will be at 10 a.m. CDT.