Marshall University Athletics
Tide Too Much for Herd
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tide Too Much for Herd
2/28/2004
- Box Score
A Crimson Tide runner slides under shortstop Jessica Williams. J. Williams had two hits in the loss to #9 Alabama on Saturday night. |
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ? 2003 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Stephanie VanBrakle used her arm and her bat to help #9 Alabama defeat the Marshall University softball team on Saturday night, 6-0, at Hargraves Field in the Frost Classic.
VanBrakle went 2-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run at the plate while striking out ten Herd batters without giving up a run in seven innings of work.
Alabama (13-3) came out of the gates first when VanBrakle singled to right field before Staci Ramsey sent a high fly ball over the right field fence grazing the scoreboard to make it 2-0 in favor of the Tide. Angela Johnson added the third hit for ?Bama, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder?s choice only to be stranded after Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) got the next batter to ground out to first.
A costly throwing error in the fifth inning gave UA its third run and Jackie McClain, a three-time All-American and Chattanooga, native, launched a shot deep over the center field fence to score another ?Bama runner and push the lead, 5-0.
VanBrakle, who also pitches for the U.S. Junior National Team, hit a triple to drive home the sixth and final run of the contest off Amanda Luers (Dover, Ohio) as she got her second action of the tournament, this time in a relief role.
The Herd could not put together a solid string of offense throughout the game, but managed a pair of hits, including a Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) double in the top of the seventh.
Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) gathered two hits for Marshall and played a steady defensive set in the field as well.
The Herd is now 1-1 against ranked opponents this season after knocking off #24 Southern Illinois in the 2004 season opener.
Nielson (4-1) picked up her first loss of the year after registering three strikeouts on five hits in five innings.
Marshall makes the journey to Frost Stadium, Sunday, to take on Wisconsin at 10 a.m. and conclude with Chattanooga at 2:30 p.m.
