Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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UTEP
Thundering Herd Sweeps Miners Sunday in Doubleheader
3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2009
Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University softball team completed its first Conference USA weekend with a sweep of UTEP taking games two and three Sunday at Dot Hicks Field.
After a comeback win Saturday, the Thundering Herd (14-7, 3-0) battled back again in the first game after being down 4-0 and taking an 8-5 decision over the Miners (13-15, 2-4). The third game ended in five innings as Marshall run-ruled UTEP 8-0.
"I'm proud of the response that we got from our players this weekend," head coach Shonda Stanton. "We need to take advantage of the situation and win our home conference games because this is a tough conference to win on the road."
The sweep of the Miners was the first for the Herd since 2007 when the team took out Memphis in three-straight. The doubleheader win Sunday was the first since last season against East Carolina.
GAME ONE
After taking a huge lead Saturday, UTEP came back into Sunday's action producing runs early with a four run third inning. The first three runs were plated when Ashley Ellis hit a three run home run after Chelsea Troupe reached on a fielder's choice and Camilla Carrera intentionally walked.
The fourth run came when Jennifer Davis singled and she was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Collazo. Davis scored on the next play as Stacie Townsend singled to the outfield.
Just as Saturday though, Marshall bounced back quickly and responded in the bottom of the third. The team loaded the bases as sophomore Jessica Hughes (Stillwater, Okla.), freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) and senior Joscelyn Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) had back-to-back-to-back singles.
With no outs and the bases juiced, junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) singled scoring Hughes. Sophomore Melanie Stoehr (Tacoma, Wash.) and freshman Rebecca Gamby (Mount Victory, Ohio) both grounded out but each was able to drive in two runs. The fourth came on an error scoring Jackson.
Jackson, who started for the Herd, was replaced in the fourth by senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Spring, W.Va.). Mitchell entered in relief Saturday night and picked up a win.
In the top of the sixth, the Miners broke the tie as Carrera was able to double with two runners on scoring one taking the lead 5-4. Down for the third time in two games, the Herd used the bottom half to spring ahead once again for another come from behind win.
Senior Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash.) started off with a double to center followed by Hughes' second hit of the game putting runners on the corners. After Sofie was caught out on a fielder's choice from Telles, Hughes came in to score after an error by the catcher tying the game. Telles gave the team its first lead coming home on an error. Jackson continued the big inning with a single and a Stoehr walk, Gamby doubled extending the lead to 8-5. Mitchell finished up work in the seventh picking up her second win in relief going four innings with three strikeouts.
For the second game in a row, Bitner went 3-for-4 with one run. Jackson, Gamby and Hughes all contributed with two hits apiece.
GAME TWO
Following a rough start Saturday, junior Katie Murphree (Tallahassee, Fla.) came back Sunday pitching a one-hitter in route to a five inning run rule win, 8-0. Murphree picked up her fifth complete game with five strikeouts on the day.
Marshall jumped out to an early lead in the third game with a single run in the first as Telles led things off with a double. After a sac bunt by Bitner, Telles scored as the Miner's catcher attempted to throw to third but sailed into the outfield.
The Herd's big inning came in the third as the outpour started with Telles and Bitner walked giving Jackson a chance to plate two more RBIs with a triple to right field. Stoehr then walked setting up Gamby to hit her second career home run to right putting the game at 6-0.
To finish off the game, Marshall picked up a run in the fourth as Hughes scored on another error by UTEP. The eighth and final run came as freshman Samantha Spurlock (Huntington, W.Va.) stole third and home to end the game.
A mid-week non-conference double header is up next for the Herd as they take on Cleveland State Thursday March 19 at Dot Hicks Field. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 p.m. EST start.
Live game statistics will be available via Gametracker and on the airwaves of WMUL 88.1 FM and at http://www.marshall.edu/wmul. All of the Herd's home games are also available with live streaming with Herd All-Access.
