Marshall University Athletics
Herd Softball Clinches First Ever Overall Mid-American Conference Championship
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Herd Softball Clinches First Ever Overall Mid-American Conference Championship
4/26/2003
- Game One
- Game Two
Allison Webb is one of several Marshall players who have stepped up for the Herd this season. |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University Thundering Herd softball team clinched its first ever Mid-American Conference championship with a pair victories over the Ohio University Bobcats Saturday on Dot Hicks Field. MU?s Allison Webb blasted a three-run walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh of game two to clinch the championship.
?I am happy for these girls because they have worked hard and they deserve it,? head coach Shonda Stanton said. ?Hopefully we will make it the beginning of a tradition here. We?ve accomplished our goals so far and hope to continue.?
The Bobcats jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in game one when Sarah Melvin doubled to leadoff the game and came in on a pair of sacrifice hits. The Herd came right back as Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) started things off reaching base with an infield hit. She promptly stole second and Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) walked. The pair executed a double steal to put runners on second and third. A passed ball by OU?s catcher allowed Davenport to tie the score. De?Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) walked and teamed up with Amanda Williams to execute a double steal and score the Herd?s second run of the inning. A pair of fly balls allowed the Bobcats to escape the inning with no further damage, but the Herd held the 2-1 advantage after one inning.
Marshall put three more runs on the board in the second. Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) each singled to start the second. Amanda Williams smacked a high fly ball to centerfield that scored both runners. Drake then picked up her 48th RBI of the season, lacing a single to right-center field to score Amanda Williams and put the Herd up 5-1.
A pair of doubles by Davenport and Drake added one more run for the Herd in the fourth. Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) left the game after pitching five complete innings for Marshall, giving up only two hits and striking out six OU hitters.
The Herd threatened in nearly every inning, but settled for the comfortable 6-1 victory. Sierra Davenport came in to pitch the final pair of innings, shutting down the Bobcats, allowing only one hit. Davenport and Drake each went two-for-four to lead the Herd at the plate.
Game two of the double-header was much more hotly contested with several lead changes. The Herd?s leadoff hitter, Jessica Williams got things going with a double in the bottom of the first inning. Davenport followed with a bunt single, moving to second on an errant throw which allowed Jessica Williams to score. After an MU out, Drake reached on an Ohio error and Davenport moved to third. The Herd then pulled off its signature steal as Davenport came into score and Drake moved to second. Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) added a single which brought in Drake and put the Herd up 3-0 after one inning.
The scoring remained relatively quiet until the top of the fourth. The Bobcats used a single hit and a Herd error to put its first run of the game on the board. Ohio continued to swing the bats hard as OU?s Crystal Turner came up with a bases loaded double to tie the game in the fifth.
Marshall answered in the bottom of the fifth with the leadoff pair of Davenport and Jessica Williams getting it done. Jessica Williams lined a one-out single, swiped second base and Davenport knocked her in with second hit of the day. Ohio however was not laying down as Shannon Weidner came up with a two out hit to score Katie Davis and put the Bobcats up 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh.
After a fiery chat with head coach Shonda Stanton, Marshall was ready to get it done in the bottom of the seventh as they have done all season. Amanda Williams lead the inning off with her record breaking 70th hit of the season and Drake walked to put a runner in scoring postion. Webb then stepped to the plate to stroke her fifth home run of the season in the form of a towering shot over the left center field fence. The blast gave the Herd the 7-4 win and its first ever MAC title.
?I knew I was due,? Webb said. ?I had to get one through to the outfield and try and help my team win this game.?
With the victory the Herd ties the program?s single season wins record with 39 on the year. Marshall has not lost a single MAC series on the season. Nielson also moved one game closer to becoming the Herd?s winningest hurler in a single season earning her 21st victory in game one. Freshman Amanda Williams also overtook Carrie Hinkle as MU?s single season hits leader.
?I was just looking to come in and contribute to the team as a freshman,? Amanda Williams said. ?It?s much easier when you have all the support and your entire team is hitting the ball.?
Davenport, Jessica Williams, Kacenga and Webb each went two-for-four at the plate. Amanda Williams, Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.), Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) and Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV) each contributed hits in the Herd?s MAC clinching contest.
The MAC champion Herd will return to action at home tomorrow as they will attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the Bobcats at 1:00 p.m. Marshall will celebrate senior day as Huntington native Karri Britt and De?Shaun Drake will play their last game on Dot Hicks Field.
