Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Memphis
Softball Falls 2-1 In Extra Innings At Memphis
4/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2010
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Marshall University softball team (17-18, 3-9 C-USA) dropped a 2-1 decision in eight innings against the Memphis Tigers (19-13, 6-5) on Saturday at the Tiger Softball Complex.
"We have lost seven one-run Conference USA games and we can see how the little things have made a huge difference in the results," said head coach Shonda Stanton.
Tigers' pitcher Carly Hummel (11-6) held MU batters hitless leading into the fourth before Jazmine Valle broke the gem with a single to left field.
It would be Memphis who would post the first run of the game, as Shanna Brown scampered home in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to right by Kailey Kassner.
The Thundering Herd recorded its second hit of the game in the top of the seventh after Caitlyn Jackson doubled to center field to lead off the inning. Two batters later Melanie Stoehr was intentionally walked, followed by Bri Anna Hope reaching on a free pass to give MU bases loaded with two down.
After a Memphis wild pitch, pinch runner Taylor Thompson came home to tie the game at 1-1.
"This group continues to fight and the effort is there we just need to be smarter ball players," said Stanton. "After we tied in the seventh, we missed an opportunity in extra innings to execute. Once Marcena [Bertoldo] was hit by a pitch we needed to move her over and be more disciplined at the plate. We weren't and that gave them the chance for the walk-off homer."
Going into extra innings, it was Memphis that came out on top in the eighth with a 2-1 victory over the Herd as a Jessica Phillips home run to center capped the game.
Katie Murphree (10-10) pitched the entirety for Marshall, striking out seven in 7.2 innings of work.
"Today we got exactly what we needed out of Katie," Stanton said. "We did not make the necessary adjustments offensively."
Stoehr finished the series against Memphis 3-for-7 at the dish (.429) with two runs scored, one home run and three RBI.
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