Marshall University Athletics
Softball Takes Two
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Takes Two
2/27/2004
- Game One Box Score
- Game Two Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ? The Marshall University softball team swept in the first day of action at the Frost Classic, washing out North Texas, 4-0, and Tennessee Martin, 10-6 in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Friday.
Marshall 4, North Texas 0
In game one, MU (6-4) began with a hustling Sarah Wilson (Washington, W.Va.) rounding the bases and plunging home off a deep double from freshman Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va.). A bunt from Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, Nev.) was then fielded by Mean Green pitcher Katy Maxey, only to be fumbled at the plate as Guzzo notched the second run of the contest.
A pair of left field hits to by Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Leigh
Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) enabled A. Williams home to register the third run of the ball game, 3-0.
The run number continued its mount in the sixth when a Guzzo single turned into the Herd?s fourth score as a pinch running Jennifer Jones (Proctorville, Ohio) after a pair of errors in the Mean Green infield.
Raci Burnett came in relief of Maxey to attempt to calm the meat of the Herd lineup in the top of the seventh. She provided an after-the-fact spark to a depleted NTU squad by striking out the side.
Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Oreg.) retired the last chance effort of the Mean Green to pick up her first career save as North Texas fell to 5-17 on the season.
Guzzo had her first career multiple hit game while going 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI and A. Williams also notched a pair of hits and a run.
In the battle of the Green, things came up rosy for Herd hurler Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) (4-0), as she gave up only a trio of hits en route to six strikeouts.
Marshall 10, Tennessee Martin 6
For the first time this season, MU picked up two wins in one day, as the Herd dropped UT-Martin, 10-6.
Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) walked, advanced to second on a steal and to third on a Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) infield out before sister Amanda picked up her first RBI of the tournament with a single to center.
Davenport got in trouble early after the Skyhawk Jen Young?s double hit off the right-center field fence. A fielder?s choice and a Wintter error loaded the bases for Nicole Davis who then sent a deep long ball over A. Williams head in center for a grand slam, pushing the UT-M lead to three.
Two additional Skyhawk hits sent Davenport to the bullpen as the Herd brought in freshman righthander Amanda Luers (Dover, Ohio).
Luers, left with two runners in scoring position, dropped one batter but gave up a double and a pair of RBI to UT-M?s Christa Webb as Skyhawk lead soared to 6-1 before Luers registered her second strikeout of the inning to get the Herd out of a dreadful first inning.
It was all Marshall from then on.
After Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.) walked and her pinch runner Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.) was scored by a Spenia double, both Spenia and a single-placed Wilson were driven in by a Jennifer Susman (Lewisburg, W.Va.) pinch hit single to bring the high scoring affair to 6-4 in favor of UT-M.
MU heated up again in the third, tying the early scoring bonanza at sixes when a Davenport double, an A. Williams single and a pair of stolen bases placed the two in scoring position before a sacrifice swing by Wintter and a balk by Skyhawk pitcher Allison Buckley sent the two home.
Three batters later, UT-M brought in Kelly Swafford in relief to retire a pinch hitting Guzzo and leave the game knotted, 6-6.
As Luers and a stiff Herd defense held the opposition scoreless after the first, the MU battery continued to spark with a pair of runs in the fifth, highlighted by an RBI single at the Skyhawk pitcher?s knees by Lauren Scott (Hillard, Ohio) . The onslaught followed the Herd into the sixth inning as well when Davenport was sent home via an A. Williams triple and a Wintter sacrifice fly brought her home a play later to give the Herd a 10-6 edge.
UT-M drug Holly Templeton from the dugout to cap the seventh inning while Marshall brought in Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) to preserve the four-run lead and pick up her first save of the season.
A. Williams put together another solid effort, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and Wilson also sliced three hits to pace the Herd.
After giving up one hit in the first, Luers (2-1) went on to hold the Skyhawks hitless through five innings of work.
In a change of schedule, the Herd will now take on Big Ten member Wisconsin on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Frost Stadium instead of Buffalo.
