Marshall University Athletics
Panther Fifth Inning Too Much For Softball
2/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Panther Fifth Inning Too Much For Softball
2/20/2005
- Box Score
TUCSON, Ariz. ? A tremendous fifth inning for Northern Iowa spelled disaster for the Marshall softball team on Sunday morning as it dropped its third consecutive contest, 5-4, at Hillenbrand Stadium at the University of Arizona.
Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) kicked off the inning with a double to deep left field. Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) moved her sister to third with a sacrifice bunt and Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif.) put runners at the corners with a walk. Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) knocked a tough grounder at the Panther shortstop to score A. Williams and break a two-game scoreless streak for Marshall (6-6).
In the third, A. Williams walked and J. Williams reached on a slap bunt single to shallow left. Folden would follow with a solid shot through the right side, scoring two, and giving MU a 3-0 lead. Wintter sent a screeching line drive off the left field fence for a double and another Herd run.
UNI got its offense rolling in the fifth after three consecutive singles loaded the bases for a one-out single to the left side, scoring two, edging the gap to within in two. A batter later a grounder at J. Williams allowed another run for a 4-3 score. Another single scored another pair to give the Panthers their first lead of the contest. All in all, UNI compiled seven hits, five runs and a great deal of momentum in the fifth.
?We started out strong but we absolutely have to finish,? head coach Shonda Stanton said. ?We need to be able to put it together for the complete game.?
Sophomore Tarah Mitchell (Shady Springs, W.Va.) saw her first career action behind the plate after Folden went to the dugout after a collision at home.
Marshall managed a season-high four stolen bases. The Herd was out-hit by one (8-7) and did not surrender another run in any other inning but the tumultuous fifth.
Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) took the loss on the mound despite striking out six in five innings on the mound and falls to 3-2 on the year. Amanda Luers (Dover, Ohio) was unsuccessful in the relief effort.
?We are going to regroup and get our minds ready for a tough opponent on Wednesday in the form of Tennessee,? Stanton said.
The Herd travels to Knoxville on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader with the Vols. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
