Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Kent State
Marshall Falls to Kent State 3-2
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University softball team (10-5) fell late in the game, 3-2, to the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Herd will look to bounce back Saturday when it faces Delaware and Cleveland State at Dot Hicks Field.
"It was a well played game on both sides," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "We look forward to the rest of the weekend and us coming out with a little more intensity and picking up things on the offensive side."
KSU (3-9) struck first, scoring in the third inning when Rachel Wilson came home, unearned, on a Marshall error.
The Thundering Herd then returned the favor in the fifth when Ashley Gue scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 1-1. MU clinched the lead in the sixth after Melanie Stoehr crossed the plate on a KSU passed ball to put the Herd on top 2-1.
Heather Duhon answered in the top of the seventh with a two-run round tripper to edge a 3-2 Golden Flash advantage - Holly Finchum also scored on the play.
Marshall was unable to convert runs in the bottom of the seventh as the Herd fell 3-2.
Katie Murphree garnered the loss for MU after eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.
"Going into the seventh, up 2-1, Katie pitched a great game," said Stanton. "In the seventh we have to close the door. We cannot afford to have that walk there. Offensively on the flip side we had runners in scoring position and we were not able to get the timely hit."
Kylie Reynolds (2-8) notched the win after going the distance with seven strikeouts. Top hitter for KSU was Mary Holt, who went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Herd will return on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start against Delaware (2-7) followed immediately by a faceoff with Cleveland State (7-3).
Day two of the Marshall Holiday Inn-vitational will begin at 9 a.m. with Kent State (3-9) taking on Delaware. At 10 a.m. KSU will face Cleveland State.
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