Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Takes Two From Eastern Michigan
3/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Marshall Takes Two From Eastern Michigan
3/26/2003
- Game One Box Score
- Game Two Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Marshall University softball team defeated Eastern Michigan University in both games of a doubleheader at Varsity Field. Marshall used five home runs on the day to move to 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference.
The Herd (23-9, 4-1) started off hot in the first game, ripping three homeruns in the first inning to take a 6-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) started
things off with a base hit and stole second to move into scoring position. Marshall?s number three batter, Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.), singled to score her sister, Jessica. De?Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) hit the first bomb of the inning, making the score 3-0 with only one out. Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV) singled to set the stage for back to back Marshall homers. Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) blasted a two-run homer before MU?s number eight batter Sarah Wilson (Parkersburg, W.Va.) kept the trend going by knocking her third home run of the season. The Eagles finally got out of the first after six runs and six hits, including the three homers.
After sending EMU (3-16, 1-4) down 1-2-3 in their half of the first, the Herd continued to swing the hot bat. Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) reached on an Eagle error and swiped second to move into scoring position. A double to centerfield by Amanda Williams scored Davenport before Drake came to the plate to knock her second home run of the game and MAC leading seventh of the season. The Herd kept things going scoring another run when Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) walked and Wintter doubled to give the Herd a commanding 10-0 lead after two.
The Herd was held relatively quiet until the fifth. EMU misplayed a long fly ball by Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va) and Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) made them pay with a base hit, scoring a run. The game ended after five due to the mercy rule with the Herd taking the 11-0 win.
Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) tossed a one-hitter with the Eagles only hit coming with two outs in the last inning. With the Herd?s flawless defense behind her, Nielson improved her record to a MAC leading 12-2 on the season. Marshall recorded 12 hits on the game with nine different players getting in on the action.
The second contest started off a bit slower, with Marshall waiting until the top of the third to start the scoring. Drake tallied two more RBIs with a double that scored Jessica and Amanda Williams. Wintter smashed a line drive off the fence in left field to push Drake across and put the Herd up 3-0.
The Eagles struck for a couple of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Genny Hann stroked a towering home run and the Eagles strung a pair of singles together to score another run and make the score 3-2 after three.
Eastern Michigan went ahead 5-3 in the fourth when they scored three runs off two hits and a pair of walks. The Herd struck back in the top of the fifth with Davenport leading off with a walk. After an MU out the Eagles opted to walk Marshall?s Drake and the Herd executed a double steal to put runners on second and third. Wintter stepped to the plate and punched a ground ball to score Davenport, but the Herd could only muster one run and remained down one run after five innings.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the fifth, but the Herd?s defense held and carried
that momentum over into the sixth. Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) leadoff with a base hit and Adams came in to relieve Marshall?s catcher from base running duties. Wilson laid down a bunt which the Eagle?s third baseman dove and knocked into foul territory, allowing the MU runners to move to second and third. Kacenga brought Adams home with a ground out to tie the game and on the next pitch the Herd took the lead as Wilson
crossed the plate on an Eagle passed ball.
Amanda Williams added a little insurance for the Herd in the top of the seventh, leading off with a solo home run. Drake nearly struck for her third homer of the day, but had to settle for a double as the ball bounced off the top of the right field fence and back on to the field of play. Marshall couldn?t score Drake, but the Eagles couldn?t push a run across in the top of the inning and the Herd pulled out the come from behind victory, 7-5.
Nielson entered the game in relief and shut down the Eagles, allowing no hits in 2.1 innings on the mound. She picked up her 13th win of the season. Amanda Williams went 2-for-3 with a home run to lead the Herd at the plate. Davenport, a junior, stole the 78th base of her career, tying her with Stefanie Cook for first place in the Marshall record book.
Marshall will host Akron University in a MAC series on Saturday and Sunday in Huntington. The games will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Dot Hicks Field.
