Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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Kansas
Herd Softball Falls to Kansas 7-3
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2010
GAINESVILLE, Fla.- In the final game of the Florida Lipton Invitational, the Herd (7-2) fell 7-3 in its second matchup against Kansas on the weekend. Marshall went 3-2 in the confines of Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
"Overall I am pleased with our first two weekends," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "When you play a 60-plus game season there is going to be a day where your pitching is not sharp; especially after two consecutive weekends. That was the difference, we were not sharp and Kansas did a great job of hitting the ball today."
KU (5-5) posted the first run of the game in the second when an Alex Jones infield single brought home Mariah Montgomery from third base. With runners on first and second and two outs down, Rebecca Gamby and Marcena Bertoldo stiffened the KU rally with a pickoff at second base to cap the inning at 1-0.
The Herd answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Pinch runner Ashley Gue stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before pinch hitter Victoria Marvin plated Gue in the next at-bat. Jazmine Valle followed with a single through the left side to score Gamby for the lead.
Kansas made a quick change in the circle, bringing in Sarah Vertelka in the third to pitch for Alex Jones. Jones came out of the game after 2.0 innings of work. Vertelka (2-2) would be credited with the win after 5.0 innings pitched.
In the third, Bertoldo recorded a sacrifice bunt to move Alianna Telles to second. Caitlyn Jackson would log the RBI with a double to left center and push the MU lead to 3-1.
"I would have liked to see more quality at-bats offensively for us," Stanton said. "I am pleased with our two weekends and now we know what we need to work on when we get back. We are excited to continue this season; we have a good group here."
The score teeter-tottered as KU came back in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. Marissa Ingle brought Montgomery home on a double to left to put the score at 2-3. Ingle then scored on a Jones single through the left side for the tie.
Katie Murphree retired one Jayhawk in 3.1 innings pitched as Jackson would come in for relief in the fourth. Jackson (2-1) would take the loss as she recorded 2.2 innings in the circle and three strikeouts before Rachel Rillo would come in to pitch during the seventh and strikeout two batters.
The Jayhawks reclaimed the lead in the fifth after pinch runner Kelsey Alsdorf came across the plate on a Montgomery hit up the middle to make it 4-3. KU stretched its advantage to 7-3 after Ingle homered to left center to plate Montgomery and Jobe.
Top hitter for MU was Valle, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
