Marshall University Athletics
Softball Wins Pair of MAC Contests
3/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Wins Pair of MAC Contests
3/29/2002
Kelli Hall went three-for-four with a double and three runs scored for the Herd against Buffalo. |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University softball team defeated the University at Buffalo in a pair of Mid-American Conference contests today at Dot Hicks Field. Marshall (9-14, 2-3 MAC) won the first game, 4-3, before pounding Buffalo (1-11, 0-5 MAC) in the second contest of the day, 7-1. The Herd acted as the visiting team as the venue was moved to Huntington due to weather conditions in Buffalo, NY.
The Herd came out cold in the first contest, as they found themselves down 4-1 after the first four innings of play. Marshall?s bats, however, heated up in the fifth inning. Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) and Carrie Dean (Paradise, Calif.) were both hit by pitches to lead off the inning. Nikki Wilcox (Lake Forest, Calif.) then laced a single to bring home Chamberlain. With runners at the corners Nichole Corrigan (Corona, Calif.) ripped a double to right center field to score both runners and tie the score at three. Corrigan stole second and scored on a single by Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.).
The score would not change after the fifth, making the final 4-3 in favor of the Herd. Davenport went 3-for-5 to lead the Herd at the plate. Corrigan and Wilcox went 2-for-4. Freshman hurler Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) went the distance on the mound for Marshall, giving up seven hits and striking out four batters.
In the second contest Marshall was ready to play from the outset. The Herd posted two runs in the top of the first inning. Corrigan started off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a combination of errors by the Bulls. Vanessa Clarkson (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled and came around to score on a hit by Chamberlain.
Kelli Hall (Huntington, W.Va.) started off the second inning in the same fashion, lacing a double to the right field fence and later coming around to score on a fielder?s choice.
The Herd put three more runs on the board in the top of the third inning. Kimmie Nickell (Victor, W.Va.) broke the game wide open with a double off the fence in centerfield to score two runs. Marshall added another insurance run in the top of the first as Hall continued to swing the hot bat. She singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, to third on a passed ball and then stole home to put the Herd up 7-0.
Bufflalo would not lay down as they fought back for one run in the bottom of the fifth, but could not come up with the hits.
Hall went three-for-four with a double to lead the Herd. Chamberlain was two-for-two, Nickell was one-for-one with a double and Sarah Wilson (Parkersburg, W.Va.) was one-for-one at the plate. Marshall?s Davenport threw seven stellar innings on the mound and improved her record to 3-2 on the season.
The Herd will return to Dot Hicks Field tomorrow to wrap up the three game series versus Buffalo at 12:00 noon.
