Marshall University Athletics
Softball's Road Swing Continues in Auburn
2/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 23, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The 4-6 Marshall University softball team returns to action this weekend at the Auburn University War Eagle Classic Tournament in Auburn, Ala. The Thundering Herd will face 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifier Auburn and three other teams in its third tournament of the season.
Play kicks off Friday morning at 11 a.m. with a contest against Georgia Southern (4-7), followed by a 6:30 night cap against Middle Tennessee (2-5). The Herd will play another doubleheader Saturday against Belmont (3-5) and tournament-host Auburn (10-0).
Marshall saw breakout offensive production last weekend off the bats of Jessica Hughes, Amanda Lara and Ashley Gue. The three amigos led MU in runs scored, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen bases. Hughes had a team-best .400 average, with a standout performance against Buffalo hitting 2-for-3 and scoring one run.
Gue, who swiped a team-high five stolen bases, also led the Herd with a .444 on-base percentage and three runs scored. Lara's consistency at the plate continues to help the squad as her performance last weekend yielded five hits, two runs and a clean four stolen bases. The junior-transfer paces the team in five statistical categories on the year including 10 hits, six runs and two doubles.
The Herd's tag team in the circle of Andi Williamson and Natalee Pulver sees the duo share the majority of the time on the rubber, with 34.1 and 28.0 innings pitched each, respectively. Williamson has collected all four of Marshall's wins this season, striking out 40 opponents - which ranks third best in Conference USA.
Tournament Breakdown
Georgia Southern
The Eagles have a shared rotation in the circle between Brianna Streetmon, Allie Miles and Sarah Purvis. Streetmon (2-2) has started four out of seven games, thrown 22.1 innings and tallied one save this year. Strikeout leader Miles, who has a team-best 21, has seen 20.0 innings of work while GSU also pulls in Purvis for shared time in the circle, with 13.0 innings pitched.
Andrea Tarashuk is the top hitter on the team, with a club-best .375 batting average followed behind by Marie Fogle who paces the team with 10 hits and three home runs.
Middle Tennessee
With a pitching staff spearheaded by underclassmen, the rotation sees plenty of playing time. Jordyn Fisherback is 1-1 after 18.2 innings of work, Janele Robinson (0-2) has thrown 14.1 innings while Caty Jutson owns the Blue Raiders' other win (1-2) after 10.2 innings pitched and one start. Top hitter is Corrie Abel who has a team-best 12 hits, two doubles and eight RBI.
Belmont
The Bruins are paced by Ashley Byers at the plate. Byers leads the team in every offensive category with a .368 batting average, four runs, seven hits, three doubles, four home runs and nine RBI. In the circle Devon Schmidt owns Belmont's two wins. In 17.2 innings pitched she has struck out 14 over five appearances and three starts. The Bruins will be aggressive on the bases as the team has swiped 10 of 13 stolen bases attempts.
Auburn
The Eagles are coming off a 4-2 midweek victory against Georgia State and have three hitting above the .350 clip. Morgan Estell owns a .480 batting average - ringing in with nine runs, 12 hits, two homers and eight RBI. A pitching staff that yields a 1.49 ERA will prove as tough competition for the Herd, Lauren Schmalz (2.17 ERA) has five wins and a staff-best 41 strikeouts in 29.0 innings. Angel Bunner (0.86 ERA) has recorded three wins and a combined shutout with 24 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work.
