Marshall University baseball will begin a three-game weekend series 7 p.m. Friday against Conference USA opponent Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Herd (21-17, 10-8) suffered a loss to in-state rival West Virginia Wednesday when a furious eighth inning rally came up one run short, which the Herd couldn’t pick up in the ninth.

It was the second straight loss for the Herd dating back to the final game of its series against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte last weekend.

Ten wins in conference play has been a rare feat for the Marshall program, and the Herd have an opportunity to make history in its series against the Blue Raiders. A sweep against Middle Tennessee State would give the Herd its most conference ever for a single season with 13. If the Herd can manage two wins this weekend, it would tie the program mark.

The Blue Raiders are just 4-14 in conference play entering this weekend and is coming off a mid-week loss to in-state foe Tennessee Tech University.

After the series against Middle Tennessee State, the Herd will return to Appalachian Power Park in Charleston May 6 for a three-game series against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.