Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Hofstra
Hofstra Takes 3-1 Decision Over Marshall
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. - Mistakes and miscues gave Hofstra a 3-1 decision over Marshall Saturday afternoon at the Wilson Tournament hosted by USF.
"It was our defensive miscues that took us out of the game," head coach Shonda Stanton. "This team does need to learn to expect success and understand their individual game plan."
The Thundering Herd (3-3) would capitalize in the bottom of the first when freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) reached first on a dropped ball in the outfield placing her on second. Senior J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) bunted down the third base line and the throw would go wide scoring Telles.
Junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) extended her season hit streak to six games in the first to place runners on the corners with no outs. Jackson finished the day going 2-for-3 raising her average to .526.
Marshall's big inning hit a snag as the Pride's (3-1) starting pitcher Kayleigh Lotti would strike out the side to keep the deficit at 1-0. Lotti also struck out the side in the second.
Hofstra knotted the game at 1-1 in the third inning after a three error inning by the Herd. Trish Dreslinski singled and Erika Bernstein reached on an error. Two batters later, Michele DePasquale also reached on an error scoring Dreslinski.
In the fifth inning, the Pride would take its first lead of the game, 2-1. Casey Fee started the inning with a slap down the third base line and would move to second after a Kristine Root sacrifice bunt. Fee would score on a double down the right field line by Sara Michalowski.
Marshall threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Bitner led off with an infield single. She advanced to second with a stolen base and to third when Jackson grounded out to short stop.
Unfortunately Bitner would be frozen at third after freshman Rebecca Gamby (Mount Victory, Ohio) struck out and senior Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash.) would ground out to end the inning.
The lead became 3-1 in the top half of the seventh as senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Spring, W.Va.) entered the game to relieve junior Katie Murphree (Tallahassee, Fla.).
The Herd had one more chance in the seventh when junior Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif.) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Jessica Hughes (Stillwater, Okla.). The game ended when freshman Melissa Loesing (Grapevine, Texas), who was pinch running for Bertoldo, was tagged out going to third.
Junior Katie Murphree was credited with the loss going the 6.1 innings giving up two earned runs and five hits. Lotti finished the game for Hofstra with a complete game with nine strikeouts.
"I was pleased with Katie in the circle today," Stanton said. "We just have to learn to make better adjustments."
Marshall will play the Saturday nightcap against host USF. The game is schedule for a 6 p.m. EST start but is likely to be delayed to roughly 6:30 p.m. EST.
