Marshall University Athletics
Zips Fend Off Softball
4/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Zips Fend Off Softball
4/25/2004
- Box Score
AKRON, Ohio ? In a rain-soaked game at Buchtel Field, the Marshall University softball team was unable to weather two Zip runs and dropped a crucial Mid-American Conference contest, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon.
In the top of the second, Sarah Wilson (Washington, W.Va.) walked and Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance her pinch-runner Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.) to second and a single from Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) loaded the bases. Akron pitcher Tina McCauley, aiming for her third consecutive complete game, proceeded to strike out one and force a pop fly to center field to escape the inning unscathed.
After Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) doubled off the top of the left field fence in the Herd?s portion of the third, Akron took advantage of a Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va.) error for a score and a Sara Zilles sacrifice fly to right field scored another giving the Zips a 2-0 edge.
An error allotted Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) to first and Ashley Mitchell (Kennesaw, Ga.) singled to put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the fifth for two of the Herd?s biggest RBI threats, A. Williams and Wilson. After an A. Williams line drive was caught in left field, McCauley struck out Wilson to again get out of the inning without giving up a run.
Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) entered the game in relief of Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Herd offense was unable to spark and dropped the contest, 2-0.
Marshall (28-24, 9-9) left eight runners on base throughout the duration of the game. Akron is now 21-23 overall and 5-12 in MAC play.
Nielson took the loss after pitching five innings and giving up four hits. McCauley, who pitched 23 consecutive innings this weekend, picked up the win and is now 14-11 on the year.
Marshall will have the workweek off before traveling to Buffalo next weekend for a three-game series with the Bulls.