Marshall University Athletics
Wintter Seventh Inning Home Run Lifts Softball Past WMU
4/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Wintter Seventh Inning Home Run Lifts Softball Past WMU
4/6/2005
- Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. ? The Marshall softball team threatened on several occasions, but didn?t register a run until the seventh inning as Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) jacked a solo home run for a 1-0 win over Western Michigan at Ebert Field in game one of Mid-American Conference softball action on Wednesday.
Marshall (21-12, 6-1) threatened first in the third when Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.) singled to the pitcher and Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) put runners on second and third with a double that took a bad bounce and went past the Bronco left fielder. A passed ball took a nice hop off the short backstop to snag Adams at the plate trying to take home for the second out of the inning as Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) grounded out for the final out of the frame, allowing WMU to escape the inning without surrendering a run.
Starting pitcher Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) held strong with a no-hitter through three and 1/3 innings before Katie Niemi drove a double to leftfield. Nielson wouldn?t give up another hit until the bottom of the sixth inning, a double this time from Amanda Heckaman, to put runners at second and third. A heads-up barehanded grab by leftfielder Adams kept a run from scoring as Nielson loaded the bases a batter later with an intentional walk. Last year?s MAC Freshman of the Year Kristi Strange then flied out to end the danger for Marshall.
Wintter would provide the danger for Western in the top of the seventh, crushing her seventh home run of the year for the first run of the contest and a 1-0 MU lead.
Nielson moves to 12-6 with her third consecutive win, while giving up only three hits in seven innings on the mound. Tricia VanDerSlik was the losing pitcher for the Broncos (9-15, 4-2).
