Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
East Carolina
Marshall Softball Falls 3-1 to East Carolina
4/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 26, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University softball team scored early but a big inning in the fifth scoring three pushing East Carolina to a win Sunday at Dot Hicks Field.
The Thundering Herd (27-17, 10-8) scored in the bottom of the second holding off the Pirates (38-14, 19-5) until the fifth scoring three runs. In the bottom of the seventh with one on Marshall had a chance to tie the game but freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) hit was caught at the wall to end the game.
"I'm proud of the way the girls played today," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "Offensively we need to make some more adjustments getting our barrel through the zone or laying off the outside pitch but all and all they played hard and fought but it came down to some uncontrollable situations today and you have to be better at overcoming those."
In the second, senior Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) was hit by a pitch and pinch ran from by freshman Melissa Loesing (Grapevine, Texas). After stealing second and third, junior Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif.) laid down a squeeze allowing Loesing to score.
In the fifth, East Carolina started the inning with Tiffany Shaw and had a pinch runner, Jillian Gallagher, who advanced to second on a groundout. Charina Sumner then singled and Jessica Johnson was intentionally walked loading the bases.
Cristen Aona then singled to left and two runs came around to score as the second came on a play at the plate as Sumner slid and scored. The third run came as Christina Merrida singled scoring Johnson.
In the bottom of the seventh, after a single from freshman Samantha Spurlock (Huntington, W.Va.), Telles came to the plate and nailed a shot to left field but fell into the glove of Marina Gusman-Brown at the wall.
With the home schedule complete the Herd will get back on the road for a midweek doubleheader with Ohio Wednesday and travel to Texas to complete its C-USA regular season schedule with a three-game series against Houston.
"I'm excited about the ball we're playing and we'll be better," Stanton added. "I'm excited about this next week and get ready for Ohio and a 10-day road trip excited about where we stand right now."
