Marshall University Athletics
Softball to Open Season at Stetson Lead-Off Classic
2/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 10, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall University softball head coach Shonda Stanton and crew will open the 2010 season this weekend as they head to DeLand, Fla., to compete at the Stetson Lead-Off Classic. The Herd will face Michigan State, Missouri State and host Stetson over the weekend.
MU will kick-off the tournament with the opening contest against Michigan State on Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by an 11:30 faceoff against Missouri State. Game three features another matchup against the MSU Bears, with an 11 a.m. start time on Saturday. The Herd will then play tournament-host Stetson at 4 p.m. Sunday's game time and opponent will be determined based on Friday and Saturday's results.
Last season the Herd finished 31-20 overall and went 11-10 in Conference USA. MU went 1-1 at the C-USA Tournament before NCAA Tournament-bound Tulsa knocked them out in a 6-4 loss. Top returners for MU include junior Melanie Stoehr, seniors Katie Murphree and Caitlyn Jackson and sophomore Preseason All-Conference USA honoree Alianna Telles.
In 2009, Stoehr led the squad in batting average (.370), doubles (10), RBI (35), slugging percentage (.593) and on-base percentage (.418). Other offensive production will come from Jackson, who finished with a .325 batting average and 51 hits; and Telles who had a team-best 38 runs, two doubles and seven home runs.
In the circle, Marshall will look to Murphree who notched a 14-8 record in 26 starts last year. The senior finished the season with a 2.33 ERA and a club-high 144.0 innings pitched in 31 appearances. After going 5-5 last season in 18 appearances, Jackson will also provide depth for the Herd pitching staff.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan State finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 21-28 and went 5-14 in Big Ten action. At the plate the Spartans lose their top-three hitters from last season and will rely on sophomore pitcher Lauren Kramer who was 10-13 in 21 starts with a 3.75 ERA.
The Missouri State Bears were 19-25 in 2009 and finished seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference with a tally of 8-12. Offensively they are led by Natalie Rose and Jenna Schwark who last season batted .333 and .304, respectively. MSU returns all three pitchers from last season's roster and will look to Lauren Supak (5-8) and Lauren McGinley (10-12) to lead the way. McGinley finished the year with a 2.98 ERA in 122.0 innings pitched.
Stetson returns from a 23-31 overall performance and 5-15 Atlantic Sun finish one year ago. Senior Amy Joyce was tops on the squad with a .320 batting average, 35 runs and 54 hits. Amanda Lindsey will lead a pitching staff that had a 1.85 ERA in 2009. Lindsey finished with a 1.74 ERA, while going 12-15 in 177.0 innings pitched with 26 starts.
Live audio and video of the tournament can be purchased here.
