Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Softball Stays Strong, Taking 2-of-3 From Akron
3/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Marshall Softball Stays Strong, Taking 2-of-3 From Akron
3/30/2003
- MU-UA
Courtney Kacenga went a perfect 3-for-3 in game three versus Akron. She is hitting .309 for the Herd on the season. |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall University?s softball team used 12 hits to take the final game of a three game series from the Zips of the University of Akron on Sunday, 8-4. The Herd improved to 25-10 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference with the win.
The contest remained scoreless until the Herd strung three hits together in the fourth, posting one run on the board. After a Marshall fly out, De?Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) lined a single to centerfield and Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) followed suit. Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) scorched a ground ball through the hole and loaded the bases for Huntington native Karri Britt. Britt got the job done, lifting a fly ball to right field and scoring Drake from third.
The Zips (11-11, 3-4 MAC) however, did not lay down as they countered with a pair of home runs by Tracee McCoy and the starting pitcher, Megan McKenzie. With three hits in the inning the Zips scored three runs and took the 3-1 lead.
The top of Marshall?s lineup got their bats going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) lined a single to left field, Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) was hit by a pitch and Amanda Williams walked to load the bases. MU?s clean up batter Drake came through with a double down the left field line, scoring two runs. After a Herd out, Leigh Wintter knocked a ground ball to the Zip third baseman, which she errored allowing two more Marshall runs to score and take the 5-3 lead.
Akron countered with a single run in the top of the sixth off of a pair of hits and an MU error, cutting Marshall?s lead to one.
The Herd?s strong core of freshmen helped provide some insurance in the sixth. Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV) doubled and Sarah Wilson (Parkersburg, W.Va.) moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman shortstop, Jessica Williams, knocked in Spenia with a strong single to left field and Kacenga, another freshman, followed with a base knock to center. The pair advanced to second and third on an Akron passed ball as Amanda Williams came to the plate. The MAC?s leading hitter did not disappoint as she drove a deep fly ball that scored Jessica Williams and allowed Kacenga to score on an errant throw by the Zips. Marshall held the Zips in the final inning and earned the 8-4 victory.
Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) earned her 15th win of the season behind 12 Marshall hits.
Akron?s Megan McCauley dropped to 5-4 on the mound coming in to receive the loss.
Marshall?s Kacenga went a perfect 3-for-3 and Drake was 3-for-4 on the day.
Marshall will take on the RedHawks of Miami University on April 5th and 6th. Miami moved into the top spot in the MAC East this weekend. The RedHawks are 4-1 in the MAC, just barely edging out the Herd who are 6-2 and .50 points behind in win-loss percentage.
