Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
North Carolina State
Softball Outlasts NC State, 6-4
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2011
CLEARWATER, Fla.- In the final game of the USF Wilson-DeMarini tournament, the Marshall University softball team (2-3) edged a late rally to top NC State 6-4 on Sunday morning.
"We had a slow start but we have a great combination in Natalee [Pulver] and Andi [Willliamson]," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "This was a quality win and I am very proud of the team and how we responded after going down 4-1."
NC State (2-3) jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a single to right center by Alicia Abbott brought home Alyssa Ishibashi and Alyssa Allbritten.
Marshall did not back away, as the Thundering Herd came back in the top of the fourth to put a run on the board when Taylor Winton's sacrifice fly to right field plated pinch runner Taylor Thompson, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 2-1.
Andi Williamson came in relief for starter Natalee Pulver, who left the game after 4.0 innings pitched. Williamson, who logged the final three innings in the circle for the Herd, picked up the win - pushing her record to 2-2.
In the fifth, NC State extended its lead to 4-1 off a sacrifice fly from Caitlin Dent plated Toni Ann Williford. In the next at-bat, Allbritten came home on an Alicia Abbott fly out to Brittney Ybarra in left field.
MU thundered back in the sixth frame as a long sacrifice fly from Rebecca Gamby brought around Alianna Telles to close the gap at 4-2. Melanie Stoehr tied the game at 4-4 with a two-RBI single to right, scoring Jazmine Valle and Samantha Spurlock on the play. Stoehr finished the game going 1-for-2 at the dish with two RBI.
"The meat of our lineup energized our offense and Melanie came up big with a two-RBI hit to tie the game," said Stanton. "It is nice to see Alianna come around and our bench continuing to step up when called upon."
Valle came back in the seventh with a solid hit to break the tie after her double that landed on the left line scored Amanda Lara. Telles scored in the next at-bat on a Gamby sacrifice fly to center, giving Marshall an eventual 6-4 win.
Telles went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored while Gamby logged two RBI on the day.
Kayla Cox (1-2) received the loss for the Wolfpack after coming in relief of Jade Henning and throwing 1.2 innings and three strikeouts.
"At this point in the season it is all about getting better every day. This was a great way to end our opening weekend," Stanton said.
Next up for the Herd is the 8th Annual Georgia Softball Classic in Athens, Ga. Marshall will open up against NC State on Feb. 18 at 11 a.m.
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