Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Miss
Thundering Herd, Golden Eagles Split Saturday Doubleheader
3/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 21, 2009
Box Score Game One Box Score Game Two
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After losing its first conference game of the season earlier in the day, the Marshall University softball team picked up a game two victory against Southern Miss Saturday at Dot Hicks Field.
The Thundering Herd (16-9) fell behind early against the Golden Eagles (15-15-1) in game one, 7-2 but bounced back later in the afternoon with an 8-2 to split Saturday's action.
"The difference between the two games is the drive and the focus that we played with," head coach Shonda Stanton said.
The two teams will face off one more time Sunday at 1 p.m. EST as Marshall wraps up its 13-game home stand during the month of March. Thus far during this stretch, the team has gone 9-3 at home.
"It's been a great home stand for us having all of our fans out and we thank them for our support and we want to finish strong tomorrow," Stanton added.
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.
GAME ONE
Southern Miss jumped out to an early 3-0 in the second inning in game one but the damage could have been worse had the Herd not made some heads up plays defensively on the base pass.
The big second inning began with Megan Hill and Ashley Razey both singling and putting runners on the corners. Hill came in to score after a pickoff throw went into the outfield before Casey Jo Matthews, who was pinch running for Razey was thrown out at the plate attempting to steal home on a wild pitch.
"They got up early in the first one where we made mistakes or they came up with the clutch. So you have to give them credit for putting the ball into play," Stanton said. "I didn't see us attacking or laying out for balls; doing the little things that you need to do to be successful."
Two more runs crossed the plate for the Eagles however as Chanell Thurman, Stephanie Shiflet and Courtney Hill all singled. On Hill's single Thurman came around to score but Shiflet was thrown out on a rope from senior Joscelyn Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) from centerfield to sophomore Melanie Stoehr (Tacoma, Wash.) at the plate.
The lead would extend to five runs after Southern Miss put a run up in the fifth and sixth innings as Kristin Pilgrim homered in the fifth while Lauren Castellvi doubled and scored after back-to-back singles from Brittany Jones and Thurman. The lead reached seven in the seventh as Pilgrim and Megan Hill homered.
Marshall tried to rally in the final stanza as they did against Cleveland State Thursday starting with senior Rachel Schmidt (Alliance, Ohio) singled up the middle followed up by a senior Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) hit her second home run of the season. The rally ended there as the team lost its first C-USA game of the year.
GAME TWO
After taking a touch loss in the early game, the Herd plated six runs in the fourth and fifth innings to split the doubleheader.
"Game one we had a lack of focus and intensity while in game two we came out with that desire and we had made the right adjustments," Stanton said. "These games today showed that every weekend is a battle."
The Eagles in almost a repeat performance took an early lead in the second as a run scored when Shiflet reached on an error and stole second before coming home on a Courtney Hill single.
Marshall came back quickly however with a score in the bottom of the third as Neilson singled and was pinch run for by sophomore Jessica Hughes (Stillwater, Okla.). Hughes scored as Bitner reached on an error after she was moved over by a sacrifice bunt by freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.)
Three runs scored in the fourth put the Herd up 4-1 fast as Stoehr and senior Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash.) singled. On the next play, junior Marcena Bertoldo reached on a fielder's choice as Stoehr was thrown out at the plate.
One out and two runners on the corners though set up freshman Rebecca Gamby (Mount Victory, Ohio) singled scoring Sofie. Freshman Samantha Spurlock (Huntington, W.Va.) entered to run for Gamby executing a double steal as she took second and Bertoldo came home. Nielson notched the third run scoring Spurlock on a double.
With a three run lead going into the bottom half of the fifth, Marshall picked up three more insurance runs as Bitner walked and was advance when junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) grounded out. Stoehr earned another hit in the game with a double to center scoring Bitner.
The second run came as Southern Miss's Lana Vaughn, who entered to relieve Courtney Ramos, hit three consecutive batters pushing one across. The last run came as Bertoldo came home on a wild pitch.
The Eagles tried to battle back with a run in the sixth with Thurman and Courtney Hill singled as Thurman came home on a fielder's choice. The Herd pushed it lead back to six when Telles singled and came home after Jackson reached on an error.
Stoehr finished the game going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI while Nielson finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Springs, W.Va.) picked up her sixth win going the distance striking out three.
