Marshall University Athletics
Herd Claims Runner-Up Spot in ECU Pirate Clash
3/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Herd Claims Runner-Up Spot in ECU Pirate Clash
3/7/2005
- MU v. JMU Box Score
- MU v. ECU Box Score
- MU v. Elon Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Behind the solid pitching of Randi Nielson and the offensive tenacity of Amanda Williams, the Marshall softball team took second in the nine-team East Carolina Pirate Clash on Sunday.
QUARTERFINALS
Marshall 6, James Madison 3
The Marshall softball team had to come from behind on Sunday morning to stay alive in tournament play as it defeated James Madison, 6-3.
Designated player Katie Jaworski tripled off starting pitcher Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) in the top of the first to score two and give James Madison the early lead.
Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va.) hit a solo shot over the left field fence with one out in the second to put the score at 2-1.
A pair of singles and a fielder?s choice loaded the bases for the Dukes in the top of the third and a wild pitch by Harter scored one. Guzzo made a couple nice stops behind the plate and Harter forced a pair of groundouts to avoid any further damage for the Herd.
Marshall would find its offensive stride in the fourth. Guzzo walked and Ashley Mitchell (Kennesaw, Ga.) singled to put runners on first and second for freshmanDeanna Tourville (Rescue, Calif.). Tourville delivered an RBI single to left scoring one and chopping the JMU lead to one. Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) then singled scoring Mitchell as Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.) was caught trying for third to end the inning with a 3-3 score.
In the bottom of the fourth, Tourville reached on an error in the Pirate outfield and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Adams. A. Williams reached on a fielder's choice but Tourville was called out at the plate. J. Williams was hit by a pitch before Folden singled through the right side for another Herd run.
MU picked up its final run in the seventh when Folden singled to center and Wintter connected for her fifth double of 2005 to preserve the Marshall win.
Mitchell and Tourville paced MU offensively with two hits apiece. Marshall compiled ten hits as a squad. Harter (4-2) picked up the complete game win, after allowing five hits in seven innings of work. Renee Bounds (1-3) took the loss for the Dukes.
SEMIFINALS
Marshall 5, East Carolina 2
The Marshall defense and pitching combined to make some big plays on Sunday afternoon, stranding 12 Pirate runners on its way to a 5-2 semi-final win against East Carolina at D.H. Conley Field.
MU rallied for three runs in the third as the Williams duo landed on first and second with a single and a fielder?s choice, respectively, and Folden walked. Wintter and Guzzo both landed on base with a pair of fielder's choices. An error on the pitcher scored J. Williams and a passed ball scored Folden before Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, Nev.) laid down a suicide bunt to bring in Wintter and give MU the 3-0 lead.
Starter Nielson got herself into some trouble in the fifth when she faced a bases loaded situation with one out. After one ECU player crossed home, the Herd went to the bullpen and Veronica Ralston (Tucson, Ariz.). The junior allowed one run on a wild pitch but Marshall was able to get out of the jam.
ECU (22-4) would strike again in the sixth as MU faced its second bases loaded problem in as many innings. A single, a sacrifice bunt and a pair of walks put three on with one down as Ralston was able to pick up a strikeout and force a groundout to preserve the lead.
Folden led MU with three hits, two runs and a RBI. Nielson went four innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out five for her fifth win of 2005. Losing pitcher Kelli Harrell moves to 8-4 on the year with the loss.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Elon 4, Marshall 1
After upsetting East Carolina, the number two seed in the tournament, Marshall came up short against Elon, 4-1, in the championship game of the ECU Pirate Clash.
MU fell behind early as a double by Denise Dahlen and a RBI single by Megan Concepcion gave Elon the 1-0 edge.
Wintter doubled to start off the sixth inning for Marshall and her pinchrunner Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) reached third on a sacrifice bunt from Guzzo. Spenia brought her in with her second sacrifice RBI of the tournament, this time a sac fly to left field, scoring Kacenga.
Starter Luers got in a bind in the bottom of the sixth. After striking out one, a passed ball, an error and a fielder?s choice caused one run to score and a Phoenix triple sent home two more to give Elon a 4-1 lead.
Marshall outhit Elon, 5-4.
"We saw a lot of positives this weekend," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "To go 5-2 is great, especially as we head into our home tournament next weekend."
For the tournament, A. Williams maintained a .400 batting average with ten hits, four runs, four RBI and six stolen bases. Nielson picked up three wins and a save while hurling for a .75 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
MU hosts the Ramada Marshall Softball Classic beginning Friday.
