UTEP Takes Two From Softball

March 13, 2010

EL PASO, Texas- The Marshall University softball team (14-9, 0-2) fell 2-1 in Saturday's first game at the hands of UTEP. The Miners would then push for a 3-2 victory in game two at Helen of Troy Field.

"We have to keep our heads up after losing two one-run ball games," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "I am very pleased with our pitching; they did a great job. Unfortunately we did not hit. There are going to be days like that. At any point in time in both of those games, one hit would have broken open the game for us."

In the first game of the doubleheader, UTEP (17-8, 2-0) posted two early runs in the first. Kia Moore would cross the plate, unearned, in a Camill Carrera at-bat, followed by Stacie Townsend scoring on a Kayleigh Walts hit to center to give the Miners a 2-0 edge.

The Thundering Herd would tack on its only run of the game in the fourth as Melanie Stoehr would come home on a Jazmine Valle single down the left field line. The rally wasn't enough as the Herd would eventually fall 2-1 in seven innings.

Rebecca Gamby went 2-for-3 at the plate as the Herd's top batter.

Katie Murphree (8-5) took the loss for MU after 6.0 innings of work and striking out seven Miner batters along the way.

Townsend notched the win, after 7.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts - moving her to 14-5 on the season.

"We have to come out, keep our heads up and tomorrow put things together offensively," Stanton said. "Overall I am pleased on both the defensive and pitching side. We just have to be better at quality at-bats."

UTEP came back again in the second game of the evening with a case of dÃƒÂ©jÃƒÂ vu, taking a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Moore crossed the plate on a Courtney Ware single up the middle; Ware would then score in the next at-bat on an Ashley Ellis double to right center giving the Miners a 2-0 cushion.

The Herd would break down the lead as it answered back in third with a deep hit from Caitlyn Jackson that nearly missed long ball status, but would score Alianna Telles from first to put the score at 2-1.

MU would tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth as Jackson led off with a double and Stoehr followed with a triple to right center to bring Jackson around.

The Miners would then bring in Kelly Curran for Courtney Auger, who would leave the game after 4.0 innings and four strikeouts. Curran (1-0) would register the win after finishing the game with two strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched.

UTEP claimed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth after Moore scored on a Ware single through the left side. Marshall was unable to convert runs as the Herd would drop both games on Saturday afternoon.

Jackson (3-4) pitched 6.0 innings for the Herd with six strikeouts and went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.

MU will wrap up in El Paso when it plays at 2 p.m. (EST) on Sunday.

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Players Mentioned

Rebecca Gamby

Caitlyn Jackson

Katie Murphree

Melanie Stoehr

Alianna Telles

Jazmine Valle

Marshall University Athletics