Herd Avenges Earlier Offensive Struggles, Dominates Spartans 13-5

Feb. 24, 2007

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - All nine batters in the Marshall lineup recorded at least one hit, while seven different batters were credited with an RBI as the Thundering Herd thumped the UNC Greensboro Spartans 13-5 Saturday night at the First Pitch Classic.

More impressive, the Herd (7-7) scored at least one run in each inning of the run-rule affair. Marshall out-slugged UNCG (7-8), hammering a season-high 16 hits, while driving in a season-best 13 runs.

Senior southpaw Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) earned her fourth win (4-3) of the season. Harter allowed five runs on 10 hits while fanning three batters in 5 1/3 innings of work.

UNC Greensboro starter Amber Harrell (2-4) was dealt the loss, lasting four complete innings. Harrell allowed seven runs on nine hits, striking out one. Hannah Angel surrendered six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 relief innings.

The Herd's top four batters in the lineup - J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne), Kristina Knecht (Concord, Calif./Daytona Beach CC), Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) and Samantha Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) - went a combined 9-for-14 with nine RBI.

Bitner continued with her hitting streak, which is now at a season-best 14 games. Bitner went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Knecht went 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBI, while Folden extended her hit streak to a career-high 12 games with a 2-for-2 and two RBI outing. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.

The Spartans' offense wasn't as impressive. Although the Spartans managed five runs on 15 hits, only three different players recorded a multi-hit game.

UNCG didn't waste anytime getting on the board, as the Spartans scored one run on two hits and one crucial Herd error, taking a 1-0 lead. In the first inning, Brittany Ausley reached safely thanks to a lead-off fielding error by Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif./Rialto). After two infield singles, Ausley later scored on a Harter wild pitch that skirted past Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville).

In the home half of the first inning, the Herd tripled its run production from the day's earlier game. Marshall scored three runs in the opening frame, overtaking the Spartans for a 3-1 lead.

With two runners on, Rodriguez plated Bitner with an RBI single through the left side, knotting the game at one run apiece. Guzzo followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Herd its first lead. Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash./Cascade) later drove in the Herd's third run with an RBI single to right field.

The Spartans responded with another run in the second inning, cutting the Herd lead to 3-2. With the bases loaded, a second Harter wild pitch allowed Kara Clouser to score from third for the Spartans' second run.

Marshall regained a two-run lead in the second inning on a Folden RBI sacrifice fly, scoring Bertoldo for a 4-2 advantage.

Guzzo's solo home run - her first of the season - to left field gave the Herd its largest lead after three innings, 5-2.

However, the Herd's three-run lead quickly dwindled to one run, as the Spartans scored two runs in the fourth inning, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

Marshall earned those two runs back in the home half of the fourth inning thanks to Rodriguez's two-run home run. The Herd's second home run in two innings helped increase its lead back to three runs, 7-4.

Harter held the 49ers to just one run in the fifth inning after a less-than-routine RBI sacrifice pop fly. Jennifer Bonilla popped up to shallow right field where Knecht made a difficult over-the-shoulder catch. However, heads-up base-running allowed Mary Greenway to score, cutting the Marshall lead to 7-5.

The Herd continued to dominate the Spartans offensively, scoring four runs in the fifth to take a commanding 11-5 lead. Five different batters recorded a hit for the Herd in the inning, as the top three hitters in the lineup drove in a run.

UNC Greensboro had its chance to chip away at the Marshall lead in the sixth inning. However, the Spartans left the bases loaded at the end of the frame.

Marshall put the game away in the sixth inning, scoring two runs for the 13-5 run-rule victory.

The Marshall Thundering Herd will face the UNC Greensboro Spartans again Sunday at 12 p.m. during bracket play of the First Pitch Classic. CSTV GameTracker will be available via www.HerdZone.com.

FIRST PITCH CLASSIC BRACKET PLAY SCHEDULESunday, Feb. 24, 2007 (Charlotte, N.C.)
10 a.m. - #5 Western Carolina (2-8) vs. #4 Drexel (1-3)12 p.m. - #2 Marshall (7-7) vs. #3 UNC Greensboro (7-8)2 p.m. - 4/5 Winner vs. #1 Charlotte (14-1)4 p.m. - Championships Game

Marshall 13, UNC Greensboro 5 (02/24/07 at Charlotte, N.C.)----------------------------------------------------------------------UNC Greensboro...... 110 210  -  5 10  3      (7-8)Marshall............ 311 242  - 13 16  1      (7-7)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - HARRELL, Amber; ANGEL, Hannah(5). Marshall - Harter, Abigail;DESTEFANO, Erin(6).Win-HARTER, Abigail(4-3)  Loss-HARRELL, Amber(2-4)  T-2:03  A-74

Herd Avenges Earlier Offensive Struggles, Dominates Spartans 13-5

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Players Mentioned

Marcena Bertoldo

Rachel Folden

Gina Guzzo

Abigail Harter

Kristina Knecht

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachael Sofie

Marshall University Athletics

Herd Avenges Earlier Offensive Struggles, Dominates Spartans 13-5

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Players Mentioned

Marcena Bertoldo

Rachel Folden

Gina Guzzo

Abigail Harter

Kristina Knecht

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachael Sofie

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