Softball Draws Split With Golden Hurricane

April 26, 2008

2008 Lil' Sis Gallery

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University Thundering Herd softball team split its doubleheader with the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane with a 3-1 victory in game one, but fell in the Conference USA doubleheader finale, 4-3, Saturday at Dot Hicks Field.

The Herd (24-27, 11-9) collected nine total hits in the two contests. Seniors Rachel Folden, Samantha Rodriguez and sophomore Melanie Stoehr guided the Herd with a home run and two hits during Saturday's action.

Sophomore southpaw Caitlyn Jackson (11-15) was credited with the victory in the opener after pitching a complete-game, limiting the Golden Hurricane to one run from four hits with one strikeout. Junior pitcher Autumn Mitchell (9-5) picked up the loss in the second game, going 4.1 innings allowing four runs off eight hits.

Tulsa (29-21, 10-10) was led by Christian Timmons, who went 3-for-4 in the second game with an RBI. Brooke Smart followed with two more hits and an RBI to pace the Golden Hurricane to its 10th-conference victory of the season.

Golden Hurricane's Jordan Kinard (11-5) gave up all three Herd runs in the game one contest, but with only one ruled earned. In the second game, Jackie Lawrence (12-8) earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs, but struck out nine Herd batters.

The Herd started game one with a leadoff home run from Folden, the fifth time the Baldwin, Park, Calif., native has began a game with a solo shot. The crush to left field is her 17th of the season giving her 58 in her career.

Trailing 1-0, Tulsa tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when center fielder Vanessa Vice hit a two-out single to right field. Smart continued the rally with a RBI double to right field, scoring Vice and tieng the game at 1.

Marshall retaliated in the bottom portion of the inning, when Jackson lined a shot to the Golden Hurricane's left fielder, but was dropped. After the error by the left fielder and a Herd strikeout, first baseman Stoehr cracked her fourth home run of the season over the left center field wall to secure the Herd win.

Tulsa would get its revenge in the second game when it scored four-straight runs. In the first inning, Lauren Lindsay hit her own leadoff home run, a shot to right center, her 12th of the season. Tulsa added on to its 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, when Sara Dyer doubled down the left field to begin the fourth frame. After a Tulsa strikeout and walk, Smart recorded her second double of the day down the left field line. The double scored Syer from second, but when Vice, who reached on the walk, tried to score from first, she was thrown out at home.

Leading 2-0, the Golden Hurricane doubled its run total in the fifth frame. Tulsa's Timmons doubled to left center scoring Stephanie Chomicki, who reached on an infield single. After loading the bases, Kelly Yarmer hit into a fielder's choice scoring Lindsay.

Down 4-0, the Herd cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer from Rodriguez. After a Folden walk, Rodriguez lined a homer to left field. The Herd would tack on one more run in the sixth inning when left fielder Rachael Sofie started the inning with a double to left center. After a Melanie Stoehr walk, the Herd had two batters struck out before center fielder Joscelyn Bitner registered her second hit of the season off the pitcher to score Sofie from third to end the scoring for Marshall.

Action will resume, Sunday, April 27 at noon (ET). The Thundering Herd three seniors will be honored 15 minutes prior to the first pitch. Pictures from today's Lil Sis recognition are available in a photo gallery online at the top of the page.

Marshall University 3, Tulsa 1 (Apr 26, 2008 at Huntington, W.Va.) (Game 1)----------------------------------------------------------------------Tulsa............... 000 100 0 -  1  4  1      (28-21, 9-10)Marshall University. 100 200 X -  3  4  0      (24-26, 11-9)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Tulsa - KINARD, J.. Marshall University - Jackson, Caitlyn.Win-JACKSON, Caitlyn(12-15)  Loss-KINARD, J.(11-5)  T-1:36  A-0HR MARSHALL - Folden, Rachel (17); Stoehr, Melanie (4).Weather: 70's Partly Cloudy
Tulsa 4, Marshall University 3 (Apr 26, 2008 at Huntington, W.Va.) (Game 2)----------------------------------------------------------------------Tulsa............... 100 120 0 -  4 11  1      (29-21, 10-10)Marshall University. 000 021 0 -  3  5  0      (24-27, 11-10)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Tulsa - LAWRENCE, J.. Marshall University - Mitchell, Autumn; JACKSON, Caitlyn(5).Win-LAWRENCE, J.(12-8)  Loss-MITCHELL, Autumn(9-5)  T-2:02  A-441HR TLS - LINDSAY, L. (12).HR MARSHALL - Rodriguez, Samantha (13).Weather: CLoudy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Joscelyn Bitner

Rachel Folden

Caitlyn Jackson

Autumn Mitchell

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachael Sofie

Melanie Stoehr

Marshall University Athletics