Marshall University Athletics
Softball Begins 2009 Season in Las Vegas
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Marshall University softball team will open 2009 with a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Sportco Classic hosted by UNLV.
Marshall will open up against Seton Hall which will mark head coach Shonda Stanton's 500th game at Marshall. Marshall will take on host UNLV followed by the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Even though the Thundering Herd graduated possibly its best offensive class, the team will return a handful of standouts from 2008. Leading the class is seniors Rachael Sofie and J.J. Bitner. Both have seen great amount of playing time since coming to Huntington nearly four years ago.
As a junior, Sofie was named to the C-USA second all-conference team after batting .360 with 25 RBIs. Bitner, who has always been known as a threat to steal a base or two, returns after a 2008 where she saw limited action after returning from health and family issues.
Also returning is co-newcomer of the Year, Kelly Nielson, junior dual threat Caitlyn Jackson and freshman all-conference team member Melanie Stoehr.
The Thundering Herd and the Pirates will meet for the first in school history. Marshall and the Rebels are tied at one game apiece with UNLV taking the last meeting in 2007 with a 12-3 win. The Herd leads the series against the Flames, 2-1.
The teams will be seeded after round robin play with number one playing number four and number two versus number three. Winners will advance to the championship game while the losers will play a consolation game Sunday.
The Herd is no stranger to playing in Las Vegas as this will be the team's third trip in five years. In the latest trip in 2007, Marshall went 2-3 with victories over Nicholls State and Illinois-Chicago.
Since the 2003 season, Marshall has gotten off to a great start to the season with opening game victories. The Thundering Herd defeated 10th-ranked ranked DePaul 4-3 in Athens, Ga. to open the 2008 season.
Marshall's first game against Seton Hall will begin at 1 p.m. EST Friday. A full list of games for the tournament and live stats will be available at http://www.unlvrebels.cstv.com/.
