Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
East Carolina
Softball Splits With East Carolina
3/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Marshall University softball team (16-15, 2-6 C-USA) was outlasted by East Carolina (14-12, 1-1 C-USA), 4-3 in nine innings but big hits helped propel the Herd to a 10-6 victory in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday at ECU Softball Field.
"It was a total team effort for us to earn the split," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "We have a young group with only three upperclassmen in the lineup. We needed this win today for our confidence."
Game one saw ECU attack first, as Kai Clark would homer in the second to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
The Thundering Herd would not be denied as it fired back with two runs of its own in the fourth frame. Jazmine Valle continued her four-game hitting streak with a double to left field that would score Jessica Hughes, unearned.
Marshall would then take a 2-1 lead after a sacrifice bunt from Melanie Stoehr plated Caitlyn Jackson from third. Jackson would finish the game 2-for-4 at the dish with one run scored.
Marcena Bertoldo would send the ball packing as she stepped up with her fourth long ball of the season, a solo shot to left center to stretch the Herd advantage to 3-1 leading into the bottom of the fifth.
ECU would not go away as Marina Gusman-Brown hit a two-RBI home run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings at 3-3; Kaui Tom also scored on the play.
"We let game one slip away from us," said Stanton. "Katie pitched well, but with two outs in the seventh, their best hitter capitalized on a mistake to tie the game and send it into extra innings. In the ninth we had the error to give them the opportunity to win the game."
Jackson (3-7) would come in for relief during the eighth for Katie Murphree, who left the game after 7.1 innings pitched.
The Pirates would capture the 4-3 win in the bottom of the ninth after Cristen Aona came home on a Tom sacrifice fly to left. Toni Paisley moves to 9-7 on the year with the win.
ECU continued the offensive strike in the second game on Saturday, with Gusman-Brown leading off with a triple and then scoring on a wild pitch.
Runs from Christina Merrida, on a Priscilla Velasquez single, and Charina Sumner, off a Cicely Lopez hit, would give the Pirates a 3-0 advantage over the Herd in the first.
In the second inning, Victoria Marvin would launch a double to right center to score Stoehr and Ashley Gue and close the gap at 3-2.
MU would not stay behind long, as Melissa Loesing tied the game, 3-3, after stealing third and scoring on an ECU error.
In rally formation, Marshall would tally six runs in the third to capture a commanding lead. Valle sparked the offense with a two-run shot over the left field wall that brought around Jackson. Two batters later Rebecca Gamby parked a homer of her own to center to make it 6-3.
"Jazmine continues to step up and perform big as a freshman," said Stanton.
Valle would go 2-for-4 in the game and now sits with four homers on the year, while Gamby chips in with three.
The bats continued to roll as Bri Anna Hope singled through the right side, followed by a bunt from Loesing to give MU two ducks on the pond with one out.
ECU tried to shut down the rally by bringing in Gusman-Brown to pitch for Faith Sutton (5-5), who would take the loss after leaving the game with 2.1 innings of work.
The Herd then saw itself with bases loaded after Bertoldo struck out swinging and reached on a passed ball. Alysia Hively responded to the opportunity with a three-run double to left center to plate Hope, Loesing and Bertoldo and give MU a 9-3 advantage.
Pinch hitters Marvin and Hively each went 1-for-1 at the plate, respectively, with Marvin putting up two RBI and Hively notching three.
"Great to see both Marvin and Hively come off the bench with huge RBI's," Stanton said. "We were down early and could have easily folded. I am really pleased how we fought back."
The gap was closed to 9-4 in the bottom of the third after Sumner scored on a Tom single to left field. ECU continued to fight back in the fourth with runs by Gusman-Brown and Merrida, to put the score at 9-6.
Marshall brought in Murphree in the fourth, as Jackson would come out of the game after 3.2 innings and four strikeouts. Murphree moves to 10-8 on the year with the win.
"Katie showed great mental toughness to come back in and respond after the heartbreaking loss to secure the win in game two," said Stanton.
Stoehr would then record her first RBI of the game on a single through the right side to plate the eventual final run in Alianna Telles and give MU a four run cushion, at 10-6, in the sixth.
ECU was forced to make its third pitching change of the game, opting for Paisley to get the final out of the sixth. Gusman-Brown left the game with one strikeout in 3.1 innings pitched.
Marshall would keep the Pirates at bay and hold on to split the doubleheader with a 10-6 victory in game two.
The Thundering Herd will finish the series against East Carolina at noon on Sunday.
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