Marshall University Athletics
Herd Concludes Six-Game Homestand Wednesday Against Louisville
3/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2007
Louisville Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
HUNTINGTON - Following a 3-1 start to its home schedule, the Marshall Thundering Herd will conclude its six-game homestand Wednesday when it welcomes the Louisville Cardinals to Dot Hicks Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Fans can catch all the live action by tuning in to WMUL 88.1 FM or logging on to www.marshall.edu/wmul 20 minutes prior to first pitch. Live stats will also be available at www.HerdZone.com.
Wednesday will mark only the second meeting between the schools, as the Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the Herd in its only other meeting (2001).
Last week, the Herd (13-9) counteracted a slow start, scoring seven runs during the final two innings, to cruise to a 10-1 win over Eastern Kentucky Tuesday. Marshall then swept an important Conference USA doubleheader with UTEP Saturday before falling to the Miners Sunday.
"We are getting into our stretch of the season where it is time to put all three phases of the game together," Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton said. "Saturday against UTEP, I felt great about our progress.
"But, then, on Sunday, we lacked focus and did not do anything well."
Louisville (11-8) enters the non-conference tilt riding a five-game winning streak, which included capturing the Maryland Terrapin Softball Invitational title. The Cardinals are led by senior shortstop Courtney Moore, who was named BIG EAST Hitter of the Week Monday.
Moore went 8-for-17 with three home runs and nine RBI to lead Louisville to five wins.
"Our doubleheader against Louisville gives us an opportunity to rebound from our poor performance Sunday and feel good about heading down to Birmingham this weekend."
"Louisville is a quality opponent with solid pitching," Stanton said. "We need to go out and compete."
Although the Cardinals are only batting .275 as a team, Louisville's pitching staff is holding opponents to an impressive .195 clip at the plate. However, that number may be affected after Wednesday's meeting as the Herd enters the game with the conference's second-best team batting average at .336.
Offensively, the Herd is paced by sophomore lead-off hitter J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) and its junior slugging duo of Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) and Sam Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom). Bitner leads C-USA with a .513 batting average, 40 hits and 20 stolen bases.
"We have a group of very talented ball players, but the thing we lack right now are competitors," Stanton said. "It is time for each individual within our program to step up her level of commitment and really value competition and what it takes for us to be successful.
Folden, the league's Preseason Player of the Year, is second in C-USA with a .462 average, while posting six home runs and 26 RBI. Rodriguez is third on the team with a .357 clip and behind Folden in home runs (5) and RBI (24).
"We are in a position to do just that, but it will take a renewed sense of ownership and a higher level of focus come game time Wednesday."
Following Wednesday's doubleheader, the Marshall Thundering Herd will begin a six-game road swing this weekend against UAB.
