Marshall University Athletics
MAC-Leading Softball Takes On EMU
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MAC-Leading Softball Takes On EMU
4/29/2005
Herd four-year starter Randi Nielson will play her home finale on Sunday. Photo by Matt Riley |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ? The Mid-American Conference- leading Marshall softball team will play host to Eastern Michigan this weekend in the Herd?s home series finale on Saturday and Sunday at Dot Hicks Field.
Marshall (30-17, 15-3) was downed by No. 13 Tennessee on Wednesday in Knoxville. Despite losing 3-0 and 5-1, the Herd can take some pride in not surrendering an extra base hit to the Vols, while garnering five of its own. Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif.), the reigning MAC East Player of the Week, is continuing to rip through the opposition, boasting a .426 batting average and 60 hits, including eight home runs and 17 doubles. If the freshman continues at the pace she is going on, she is on point to rank second in accordance to batting average in a season in Marshall history. The rookie broke the season record for doubles in a year with one in game two against UT and needs five total bases and two home runs to capture season-best tallies in those categories as well.
The weekend, however, will belong to the Herd?s lone senior, Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.). Nielson will likely toss her final game at Dot Hicks Field on Sunday against the Eagles. Heading into this weekend, Nielson, the backbone of the Herd pitching staff for four years, has compiled a 2.13 ERA, a 16-7 record and 95 strikeouts this season, while holding the opposition to a .215 batting average. The right-hander is coming off an impressive performance versus the Vols on Wednesday after giving up only four hits and one earned run in a complete game loss.
Eastern Michigan (13-18, 9-8 MAC) is led by Liz Flack?s .318 batting average and 27 hits. The Eagles, who are batting .205 as a squad, swept Kent State in a doubleheader on Wednesday. Aimee Woodrum paces the Eagle pitching staff with a 2.52 ERA and a 7-9 record. EMU joined Marshall in the Buckeye Invitational at Ohio State earlier this season, but the pair did not compete against each other. The Eagles last visited Dot Hicks Field in the 2004 Ramada Marshall Softball Spring Classic as the Herd took both games from EMU. The all-time series sits in favor of the Herd, 8-2.
Marshall currently leads the conference overall after some help from Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio) on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. The Broncos and RedHawks split with Central Michigan to give the Herd a one-game edge with two weekends of play remaining.
Sunday will be Senior Day as the Herd will honor Nielson prior to first pitch against the Eagles. The doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 p.m. as well as the series finale on Sunday.
