Marshall University Athletics
ECU Pirate Clash Up Next for Softball
3/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ECU Pirate Clash Up Next for Softball
3/2/2005
Amanda Williams has crossed the plate more than any other MU player (9). |
After taking a break from competition, the Marshall softball team looks to get back on the winning track this weekend as it heads to North Carolina for the East Carolina Pirate Clash.
Prior to the postponing of a doubleheader at No. 7 Tennessee on Wednesday, Marshall (6-6) saw four of six games scheduled in the Worth Wildcat Invitational at the University of Arizona washed out. The Herd fell in the two that it was able to play, a 7-0 loss against UA on Friday and a 5-4 slide against Northern Iowa. The Herd was held hitless by All-American pitcher Alicia Hollowell on Friday and managed to give up all five runs to the Panthers in the fifth inning in a loss to UNI. Senior Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) had an impressive start against the Wildcats, allowing only five hits in five innings of work and striking out three. On Sunday, MU had seven players manage one hit apiece.
Freshman Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif.) continues to pace the MU offensive attack with a .459 batting average to coincide with 17 hits and 13 RBI. Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) leads the team in runs (9) and doubles (4) while batting a stellar .371.
The tournament will include definite games with Delaware, Liberty, James Madison and East Carolina. Battles with Elon, Binghamton, and Princeton are all possible in championship play, which begins Sunday.
Delaware (1-4) has seen its share of offensive woes this season, batting .150 as a squad. Jenn Joseph leads the Blue Hens at the plate and on the mound as she boasts a .300 average in the box and a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings of work as UD?s top pitching threat.
Liberty (4-1) is led by Jessica Moore at the plate. Moore has a team-leading nine hits, eight runs, two home runs and six RBI. The Flames bat .274 as a team and have four players batting above the .300 mark. LU is perfect in stolen bases (5-for-5) but have yet to throw out an opposing thief. On the mound, Terra Lowe sees most of the action. Lowe has a 1.83 ERA to combine with a 2-0 record while holding the opposition to a stingy .204 batting average. The Flames have conquered Coppin State, North Carolina-Greensboro, Delaware State and Hampton this season while its only defeat was a romping at the hands of East Carolina, 12-0.
A second-place finisher in the Colonial Athletic Association a year ago, James Madison (5-4) will represent MU?s third opponent this weekend. Led by Brianna Carrera?s .370 batting average, JMU is swinging for a .226 average but allowing opposing teams to a .267 mark. While Carrera has seen more time on the mound than any other Duke pitcher, it is Liz George with the most solid numbers in the circle. George is 2-0 as a starter with a 1.50 ERA. The Dukes shut-out the Herd?s conference foe Miami (Ohio), 2-0, on Feb. 19.
Arguably the hottest team in the tournament is the host-squad, East Carolina (18-2). The Pirates have amassed an incredible 27 home runs this season, including five apiece from Kate Manuse and Mandi Nichols. Manuse paces the team in RBIs (19) while Paige Baggett has the top batting average (.448). Keli Harrell (8-2) has been dominant as the Pirate?s ace, hurling for a 1.13 ERA and 104 strikeouts. ECU most recently fell in the championship game of the Holiday Inn Express Pirate Classic to College of Charleston, a team that the Herd lost to at the Tiger Invitational in the middle of February. The Pirates decimated Ohio earlier this season, 9-0 and 12-0, and have compiled six mercy rule decisions in 2005.
MU will take on Delaware (11 a.m.) and Liberty (3 p.m.) on Friday while it will do battle with James Madison (9 a.m.) and East Carolina (11 a.m.) on Saturday. Bracket play is set to begin Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
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