Marshall University Athletics
Softball Takes Two From Toledo
4/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Takes Two From Toledo
4/10/2003
- Game 1
- Game 2
TOLEDO, Ohio- Marshall used an all-around team effort to down the Rockets of the University of Toledo, 7-1 and 6-0 at Scott Park on Wednesday. The Herd played errorless ball and 10 different MU hitters recorded hits as Marshall improved to 30-10 overall and 11-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) recorded her fourth one-hit contest of the season, retiring the final 17 straight batters and taking the 7-1 victory in the first contest over the Rockets.
In the top of the first inning MU junior Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) was able to reach base with a walk and Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) followed with base hit. The Herd?s number two and three batters executed a double steal to put runners in scoring position for clean-up hitter De?Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.). Drake got the job done, punching a ground ball to the right side to score the MU run. Three walks and a hit batsman in the bottom of the inning allowed the Rockets to come right back and tie the score at one after one complete inning.
The tandem of Amanda Williams and Drake produced another run for the Herd in the third. Amanda Williams walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Drake knocked in her second run of the day with a solid single to center field, giving the Herd a 2-1 edge.
Marshall used its speed to gather a little breathing room in the fifth. Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) got things going when she ran out a ground ball that was fumbled by the Rockets? third baseman. Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) placed an infield hit and Davenport moved the pair up to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Amanda Williams stepped to the plate to collect two RBIs in the form of a single to center field. Drake followed with a base knock, moving Amanda Williams to third and Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) knocked her in, giving the Herd a four run cushion.
Drake lined her third hit of the game in the seventh inning and came around to score when Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) smashed a two out double. Freshman Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV) laced a single to center and Kacenga followed suit, bringing in the Herd?s final run and making the score 7-1.
MU?s hurler, Nielson, threw her 15th complete game of the season and improved her record to 18-2. Marshall had nine hits in the contest with Drake and A. Williams recording multiple hits.
The Herd jumped out to an early three run lead in the second contest. Leadoff batter J. Williams lined a single to center and stole second to move into scoring position. The next batter, Davenport, legged out a bunt single and moved J. Williams to third. A. Williams then knocked in her sister, picking up a ground out RBI. After an MU fly out, Webb tattooed a two run homerun into the stands in left field, giving Marshall the 3-0 lead.
Webb added her third RBI of the game and 20th of the season when she knocked in A. Williams with a ground ball to the right side her next time up. A. Williams reached base on a Rocket error and stole her way to third to help produce the Herd?s fourth run of the contest.
A. Williams, got things started again for the Herd in the fifth. The MAC?s leading hitter smashed a single to right field and beat the throw to second on a ground ball by Drake. Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) then cleared the bases with a double to deep right field, making the score 6-0 in favor of the Herd.
Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) (5-5) scattered seven hits over seven innings and picked her second shut out of the season. Seven different MU batters recorded hits in the contest. Webb blasted her second homerun on the year.
Toledo, currently in 6th place in the MAC West, fell to 2-10 in the conference and 5-22 overall on the season.
Marshall will travel to Kent State University to take on the Golden Flashes in an important MAC series this weekend. The MAC East?s number one and two teams will square off at 1:00 p.m. for a doubleheader on Saturday and at the same time for a single game on Sunday.
