Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Arizona
No. 10/12 Arizona Defeats Marshall, 10-4
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. - The Marshall University softball team was dealt its second loss of the season at the hands of No. 10/12 Arizona Friday 10-4 at the Wilson Tournament hosted by USF.
The Thundering Herd (3-2) found themselves behind as much as 8-0 to the Wildcats (3-2) after just 1 ½ innings of play.
"if you spot any team four runs before you bat, it's tough to expect to be successful," head coach Shonda Stanton said.
Arizona started out in the first with back-to-back singles by Brittany Lastrapes and K'lee Arredondo. Jenae Leles would then walk to load the bases with no outs.
Lini Koria singled to score the first run and Stacie Chambers would follow up with a double to center and advancing to third on a throwing error scoring three runs.
Junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) would be relieved by senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Spring, W.Va.). Mitchell would then strike out two and a play at the plate to end the inning.
The next four runs in the second would come with more offensive power by Arizona starting off with a Lastrapes double to center and an Arredondo single. With runners on the corners, Leles would single scoring LaStrapes.
Koria notched her second hit of the game with a double to right scoring two and extending the lead to 7-0. The eighth run came when Sam Banister would sacrifice fly to right scoring Leles.
Marshall would battle back though in the bottom of the second scoring four runs on four hits to cut the lead to 8-4.
Freshman catcher Rebecca Gamby (Mount Victory, Ohio) would start off the rally with a single to left field. Freshman Melissa Loesing (Grapevine, Texas) entered the game to pinch run for Gamby.
Loesing would move to second when senior third baseman Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) reached on an error.
Junior Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif.) got on with an infield single loading the bases for senior Rachel Schmidt (Alliance, Ohio). Schmidt would take advantage with a shot to right center scoring all three runners.
Sophomore Jessica Hughes would pinch run for Schmidt and would eventually score after senior J.J. Bitner's (Virginia Beach, Va.) single cutting the lead to 8-4.
The Wildcats however would extend the lead back to six in the third with a Kristen Arriola double to center to start the inning. Lauren Schutzler would single and Lastrapes would walk to load the bases.
Mitchell would finish up with four innings of work allowing five earned runs striking out four and walking three batters.
In relief for Mitchell, junior Katie Murphree (Tallahassee, Fla.) would finish the final three innings allowing two hits and striking out three.
"I was very pleased with Katie," Stanton said. "It makes us better giving our pitchers more innings and Katie used it."
The Herd would get the force out at the plate with Arriola but Arizona's Leles would single scoring both runs putting the game at 10-4.
The game would stay at 10-4 with both teams threatening with multiple chances to change the game including Marshall loading the bases in the seventh.
In the game overall Marshall as team notched season high 12 hits including a 3-for-4 performance by Bitner. Gamby, freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) and Bertoldo knocked in two hits apiece.
Jackson extended her hitting streak to five games in her last at-bat in the seventh with an infield single toward third.
"I was happy with the good offense from Gamby, JJ and Alianna," Stanton said. "Getting 12 hits against an Arizona or anyone is wonderful but it just comes down to getting the job done in the circle and defensively and finding that competitive edge."
The Herd will continue play in Tampa Saturday with two games starting at 1:30 p.m. against Hofstra and a 6 p.m. game against host USF.
