Marshall University Athletics
Western Michigan Up Next for Softball
4/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Western Michigan Up Next for Softball
4/5/2005
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference East Division-leading Marshall softball team will take on Western Michigan on Wednesday in a doubleheader against the Broncos, beginning at 1 p.m.
Marshall (20-12, 5-1 MAC) swept Akron at home this weekend. The Herd dropped the Zips, 6-3, 8-0 and 5-3 on Sunday at Dot Hicks Field.
For the third consecutive week, Marshall racked up East Division Player of the Week honors as Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va.) was tops in the division. She put up a steady performance in the Akron series, including four RBIs against the Zips. The sophomore catcher went 2-for-2 in game two against UA with a RBI and paced the Herd to a victory in game three with a 1-for-3 performance that was highlighted by another three RBI effort. Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) picked up two wins on the mound, while Herd ace Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) picked up her bullpen leading 11th win. Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif.) continues to lead MU offensively with a .433 batting average, 42 hits and 32 RBI.
Western Michigan (9-14, 4-1 MAC) took down Ohio in a three-game series before splitting with Akron last Wednesday. Katie Niemi leads the Broncos with a .338 batting average while Amanda Heckaman paces the team with 11 RBI. Tricia Vanderslik is WMU?s top pitching threat, boasting a 2.48 ERA and a 5-8 record.
Possibly the most glaring number between the schools lies in the stolen base column. Bronco baserunners are 5-of-6 on the year while the Herd has swiped 63 bags in 78 attempts.
MU dropped the Broncos last year on March 27 in Huntington, 3-1 and 7-6. The all-time series rests in favor of WMU, 3-8.
For the latest information on Marshall softball and all other Herd athletics, stay logged on to www.herdzone.com.
