Marshall University Athletics
Wintter Boasts Six RBI in Slugfest Loss for Softball
5/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Wintter Boasts Six RBI in Slugfest Loss for Softball
5/7/2005
- Box Score
KENT, Ohio ? Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI, but the Marshall softball team fell short in game one against Kent State, 9-8, at Kent State Softball Field in Mid-American Conference softball action on Saturday afternoon.
Kent State pitcher Brittney Robinson struck out five of the first nine batters she faced in the Herd lineup and surrendered only one hit to hold MU scoreless through three.
Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) singled to start the fourth inning and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) reached on a throwing error by the KSU third baseman to put runners on the corners for Herd cleanup hitter Wintter. The third baseman came through with a two-RBI double to deep left center for the first scores in of the game.
Jodi Stevens connected for a two-run jack over the leftfield fence in the Golden Flashes? portion of the fourth to even the score. A single and a walk set up a double for Ashley Ball to bring two more home to give KSU a four-run frame and a two-run cushion. Mandee Luers (Dover, Ohio)came in for starter Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) midway through the inning.
Marshall would strike back and bat around the order in the fifth. Ashley Mitchell (Kennesaw, Ga.) singled, Dee Tourville (Rescue, Calif.) reached on a fielder?s choice, and Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.)singled to load the bases. J. Williams and Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif.) then connected for consecutive RBI singles. But it was Wintter that would steal the show. The junior picked up her ninth home run of the year in dramatic fashion, a line-drive grand slam over the centerfield fence, for a seemingly commanding four-run Marshall lead.
A lead short-lived, however. Kent State would put up four runs in the fifth with a grand slam of its own by Whitney Lebowitz to even the game again, this time at 8-8.
Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) got drilled by a line-drive in the leg by the first batter she faced in the sixth inning, in relief for Luers. The sophomore was still able to hold the Flashes? offense at bay to give each team one more chance in regulation play.
The Herd went three up and three down in its try but Kent State, vying for one of the final slots in the upcoming MAC tournament, would have more luck.
A pair of doubles by Kim Hamilton and Ashley Fairhurst resulted in the deciding score for the Golden Flashes and the win.
Erin Christopher was the winning pitcher for KSU (25-23, 10-9 MAC) while Harter took the loss for Marshall (33-18, 18-4 MAC). Both squads combined for 20 hits in the marathon contest which lasted nearly three hours.
Wintter went 2-for-4 with six RBIs to lead the Marshall offense. J. Williams had two hits and two runs.
The Herd needs to win one game this weekend to capture the MAC Regular Season Title and number one seed in the tournament.
