Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Softball Splits With UAB
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall University softball (15-12, 1-5 C-USA) split with UAB (17-8, 3-3 C-USA) on Saturday at Dot Hicks Field, but surrendered the series 2-1. The Thundering Herd fell 8-3 in the first game of the doubleheader, but clenched game two, 3-2, with a two-run homer from Alianna Telles.
"What has amazed me as a coach is to see a young team perform so well in preseason tournaments against solid competition, be prepared throughout the week and have the knowledge going into the weekend but fail to transfer that to these conference series," said head coach Shonda Stanton.
The Blazers struck first blood in game one, as they posted four runs, three unearned, in the opening frame of the game.
Martina Landrum came in unearned for the first run on a Cameron Skates single, with Caley Walden following in the next at-bat on a Mandy Lowman double to put UAB ahead 2-0. Lowman would then score, unearned, on a Catherine Douglass single to left center. Kayla Orr would cap the inning at 4-0 when she came home in a Natalie Mitchell at-bat.
"We mishandled three ground balls and misjudged a pop fly to the outfield, so we gave them four extra outs in the inning," said Stanton. "Any time you do that, a team that does a good job at hitting the ball is going to take advantage of those mistakes and they did."
UAB continued the offensive strike in the second inning as Landrum would score on a Skates single up the middle to put the UAB advantage at 5-0.
Marshall would then bring in Rachel Rillo to get the final two outs of the second, but not before UAB scored Cameron Skates on an Orr double - putting the Herd behind 6-0. Caitlyn Jackson (3-4) would become the pitcher of record in the loss after coming out of the circle after 1.1 innings pitched and two strikeouts.
The Herd would fire back in the third with three runs to close the gap at 6-3. Alianna Telles sparked the offense with a sacrifice fly to right to plate Jessica Hughes - Marcena Bertoldo also scored during the play on a Blazer error. Ashley Gue would get the third run of the inning after coming home on a wild pitch.
UAB kept the fire ablaze to notch two more runs in the sixth when Kate Armstrong homered to center field to score Skates and clench an eventual 8-3 UAB victory.
Lauren Webster (8-2) got the win for the Blazers after going the distance and striking out 11 batters along the way.
Jessica Ferrick pitched 0.2 innings for the Herd, as the freshman made an appearance in the sixth inning in lieu of Rillo - who came out of the game after 3.2 innings of work. Jackson would re-enter later in the sixth and close the game with 2.2 innings total in the circle.
Jackson was the top hitter for Marshall, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Hughes chipped in going 1-for-2 with one run scored.
In game two, it was Hailey Glynn that recorded the first run of the game in the second inning - followed by Landrum scoring four batters later on a Kayla Orr sacrifice fly to center to give UAB a 2-0 advantage.
Victoria Marvin would answer back in the fourth with a RBI-single to the shortstop to plate Jessica Hughes and put the tally at 2-1.
Telles would thunder a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a two-run bomb that ricocheted off the scoreboard in left center. The longball marks her sixth this season and a team-best in the category.
"I am very pleased with how we responded in game two," Stanton said. "This is a game we can look back that can be a difference maker for us. Hopefully this is a game that can build this team's confidence. We have the ability and talent to perform."
Telles finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored as Bertoldo would contribute with a 2-for-2 showing at the plate and one run scored.
Katie Murphree put up an eight strikeout performance in 7.0 innings of work, moving her to 9-7 on the year. UAB pitcher Alisha Smith (5-5) would go the distance in the loss for the Blazers.
Marshall will begin a 10-game road swing when it treks to UNC-Greensboro on March 24 for a doubleheader that is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
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