Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
East Carolina
Thundering Herd Split Softball Doubleheader against Pirates
4/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2009
Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University softball team split its conference doubleheader with East Carolina Saturday at Dot Hicks Field taking game one 2-1 and falling in the second 8-2.
The Thundering Herd (27-16, 10-7) and the Pirates (37-13, 18-5) were in a pitcher's duel throughout game one each scoring one run before senior Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash.) hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh. Marshall led early in game two but a five-run fourth by East Carolina secured the split.
"I was disappointed that we didn't carry over from game one to game two," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "We didn't make plays when we need them, we were weaker than we know our pitchers are capable of in the circle and offensively we were not smart.
"We know we act as two different teams and when the first shows up we're a heck of a ball club and when the other does it can be a challenging day especially when you play the first place team. Hopefully the A team comes out and we play Marshall ball."
The teams will be back for the rubber match Sunday slated for a 12 p.m. EST start at Dot Hicks Field. Approximately 10 minutes before the first pitch, the five seniors on the team will be recognized.
"I'm very proud of these seniors and what they have been for us," Stanton added. "I encourage everyone to come out and show their respects to this senior class."
Gametracker will be available along with radio broadcast from WMUL 88.1 FM and at http://www.marshall.edu/wmul. Herd All-Access video will also be back Sunday accompanied by audio from WMUL's broadcast.
GAME ONE
After three and a half scoreless innings and a battle between junior Katie Murphree (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Toni Paisley, the Herd put the game's first run up as sophomore Melanie Stoehr (Tacoma, Wash.) doubled to left center. She scored as senior Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) singled to right center.
Going into the seventh, the Pirates tied up the game as Christina Merrida was hit by a pitch and Paisley singled. Kaui Tom then walked before Angel Barrella hit a shot to left for the sacrifice fly scoring Merrida.
With one out, Sofie stepped to the plate and nailed a shot to center for her fourth home run of the year and giving Marshall the win. Murphree pitched a complete game with just four hits and four strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The second game started out as the first game had as the Herd took an early lead in the second as Sofie singled to left and advanced to second on a ground out by her classmate Rachel Schmidt (Alliance, Ohio).
Freshman Melissa Loesing (Grapevine, Texas) then reached on an error by pitcher Brooke Swann allowing Sofie to score. East Carolina answered quickly in the third as Jessica Johnson homered to left field to take a 2-1 edge.
Marshall would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning as senior Joscelyn Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) singled and stole second base before junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) singled plating Bitner and tying the game.
In the fourth though, the Pirates would score five runs on five hits taking an edge of 7-2 before adding an additional run in the fifth to go up 8-2 and picking up the game two win.
