Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Miss
Herd Softball Drops Series Against Southern Miss
4/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Marshall University softball team dropped a pair of games (8-2; 6-1) to Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon. The Herd moves to 24-25 overall and 3-15 in Conference USA.
Taylor Thompson finished the three-game series 5-for-6 at the plate, scored two runs, posted one RBI and went a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases. The freshman also recorded five-consecutive hits in Sunday's doubleheader.
"We committed 10 errors in the doubleheader and were unable to produce the timely hit, which made for a long day," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "I want to see more fight from us in our remaining home stands."
In game one, Southern Miss (21-22, 6-12 C-USA) would jump out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame off of three hits. Marshall would then bring in Caitlyn Jackson to pitch for Katie Murphree, who left the game after 0.2 innings of work. Murphree garnered the loss, moving her overall record to 15-14.
The Golden Eagles stretched its lead to 7-0 in the second with a three-run, three-hit inning. They then made it an 8-0 ball game in the third, tacking on an unearned run by Megan Hill.
MU answered in the fifth, as Marcena Bertoldo singled to left field to plate Thompson and put the Thundering Herd on the board at 8-1.
Thompson would finish the game 2-for-3 at the dish with two runs scored and a stolen base. MU had three other players steal a base during the game: Jessica Hughes, Ashley Gue and Melissa Loesing all logged 60 free feet.
Jackson would give the Herd its second run in the top of the seventh, with a double to right center that scored Thompson.
The rally wasn't enough as MU fell 8-2 in the first game of the twin-bill. Jackson closed the final 5.1 innings in the circle, while also going 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI.
Gabby Luciani recorded the win for USM, moving her to 10-8 overall.
The Golden Eagles would start off strong offensively in the second game, posting five runs in the first inning. Britney Dinelt homered to left field and Alexis Hurley and Chanell Thurman would tally RBI in a five-run, five-hit showing by USM in the frame.
MU would bring in Murphree for Jackson to get the final out of the inning - Jackson left the circle after 0.2 innings pitched and moved to the designated player role. Jackson took the loss for the Herd and sits at 6-10 on the year.
Thompson then helped chip away at the Southern Miss lead in the second, with an infield single that scored Hughes from second and put MU on the scoreboard at 5-1.
In the sixth, a double to the left center gap by Leslie Lejune would score Lauren Castellvi to give USM the eventual winning score of 6-1.
Murphree worked 5.1 innings in the circle striking out eight Golden Eagle batters along the way. Courtney Ramos (7-9) notched the win for Southern Miss after going the distance with two strikeouts.
Game Note: Bertoldo tied for sixth in NCAA history for most hit-by-pitch in a career with 53.
Marshall softball returns to Dot Hicks Field to host Houston in a doubleheader on May 1st and a single game on May 2nd. First pitch on Saturday's twin-bill is slated for 1 p.m., while Sunday is set for a noon start.
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