Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Georgia
No. 16/17 Georgia Hands Marshall 9-1 Loss
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2009
ATHENS, Ga. - The Marshall University softball team lost its first game of the weekend against No. 16/17 Georgia falling 9-1 Saturday night in the Georgia Softball Classic.
"This was a tough loss with some missed opportunities to keep us in the game," head coach Shonda Stanton. "For the first time this season though, I was felt we played with better focus and intensity on the defensive side of the game, but Georgia just got the clutch hits when they needed them."
The Bulldogs (10-1) jumped on the board early when lead off Taylor Schlopy started the inning with a single. After the Thundering Herd (7-5) gathered a pop out and ground out, Megan Wiggins homered to right jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
Georgia tacked on a third run in the second putting the lead to 3-0. The run scored after a Lisaira Daniels double followed by Ashley Pauly singling to left scoring Daniels.
Marshall had a chance in the second as senior Joscelyn Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) started the inning with a single for her second hit of the night. Bitner's first came back in the first singling but was caught stealing second.
With her on first, junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) popped out but sophomore Melanie Stoehr (Tacoma, Wash.) singled to left. The inning ended however after senior Rachel Schmidt (Alliance, Ohio) pinch hit and grounded into a double play.
The lead for the Bulldogs got extended in the fifth as they were able to score three runs putting the game at 6-0.
The innings started out with a Schlopy walk and then by a sac bunt by Kristin Schnake moving Schlopy to second. It continued with an intentional walk on Alisa Goler. Wiggins followed up with a double scoring Schlopy.
Brianna Hesson was intentionally walked bring a pitching change for Marshall. Senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Spring, W.Va.) left the game after 4.1 innings with two strikeouts. Jackson entered the game to relieve Mitchell.
Two more runs crossed the plate for Georgia Kristyn Sandberg blasted a shot to center scoring Wiggins and Tess Echlos, who was pinch running for Goler. Jackson and the Herd escaped the inning with a strike out and ground out.
In the sixth, freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) reached on an error by shortstop Schnake. Bitner then hit into a fielder's choice. Jackson then flied out to left in her third at-bat which ended her 11-game hit streak.
Stoehr notched her second hit of the game with a single to left. Schmidt then singled to right field giving Bitner the chance to score cutting the lead to 6-1. Senior Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) struck out to end the Marshall rally.
The Bulldogs finished the game in the bottom half of the sixth scoring three more runs to end the game in a run rule, 9-1. Jackson finished the game with just one innings of work and one strikeout.
For the Bulldogs, Christie Hamilton picked up the victory in six innings of work with four strike outs while Mitchell was credited with her first loss of the season.
"We need to refocus in the morning, and bring the same intensity to our final game of this classic and head home on a positive note," Stanton said.
The Herd will complete its trip to Athens with a Sunday showdown with Tennessee State. The game is scheduled for a 9 a.m. EST start and for live stats visit Georgia's official athletics website, http://www.georgiadogs.com/.
