Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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UTEP
Red Hot Offense, Key Pitching Propels Softball Past UTEP
4/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall softball team nabbed a pair of victories on Saturday as the Herd's explosive offense shut down UTEP, 5-1, in the series opener. Andi Williamson fired back in game two giving MU the series with a 1-0 shutout of the Miners.
The Thundering Herd (19-29, 5-14 C-USA) gave a boisterous crowd of 303 an exciting double header as sun drenched Dot Hicks Field for the pair of wins on Saturday afternoon. Marshall also sealed its spot in the 2011 Conference USA Tournament when it claimed the series against UTEP.
A four-run inning in the opening contest allowed Marshall to claim a come-from-behind win, capping the game at 5-1. Seven were able to register hits in the victory while Samantha Spurlock and Taylor Thompson each went 1-for-2 with one run scored.
UTEP (16-34, 1-19 C-USA) held strong through five innings in game two of the twin bill, but Andi Williamson had other things on her mind, fanning a career high 10 batters en route to her first shutout of the year.
Game One: Marshall 5, UTEP 1
UTEP got things rolling in the top of the second after designated player Kayla Black homered to left to set the game at a 1-0 tally.
The Herd answered with heads up base running in the fourth, with one out MU was able to score pinch runner Morgan Cottrell on a fielder's choice from the bat of Alysia Hively - a miscue throw allowed Cottrell to come home during the at-bat while Hively was able to scamper safely to second base.
Not finished with commanding the bases, Marshall continued its aggressive running in the fifth to work through the bottom of the lineup leading off with an Ashley Gue infield single. Spurlock gave MU two ducks on the pond after she singled to left and advanced to second on the throw.
Thompson pushed Marshall to a 2-1 lead after a bloop double to left plated Gue and kept the bases busy with two still on board. Digging deep in a two-out rally, Rebecca Gamby came up big snagging a single to left that scored Spurlock and Thompson. Hively backed it up with an RBI-single that brought around pinch runner Jessica Hughes, giving MU a cushion in a 5-1 lead.
The Herd held on to its lead to capture the eventual 5-1 win. Gamby finished the contest with one hit and two RBI.
Natalee Pulver worked a complete game to improve her record of 9-14 on the year after a four-strikeout performance. For UTEP, Joanna Krientiz dropped to 2-7 while fanning five along the way.
Game Two: Marshall 1, UTEP 0
The scoreboard remained deadlocked and unlit through five complete stanzas as a pair of hits from both clubs was all she wrote. Despite through five frames Marshall missing ample opportunities to score, leaving five on base including a bases loaded situation in the second, the Herd would reign command of the board 1-0 in the sixth.
Jazmine Valle reached on a UTEP error to lead off in the sixth, followed by Hughes reaching via walk. Gue recorded her second hit of the day in the frame, a clutch RBI-double to left center that scored pinch runner Brittney Ybarra from second, unearned, giving Marshall all it needed to stay afloat for the win.
Gue was 2-for-3 in the second game - hitting at a .500 clip on the day with one run scored and one RBI.
Williamson worked through the Miners lineup quickly, striking out 10 and allowing only two UTEP runners to reach past first base on the day. She moves to 7-10 this season with the shutout victory. Courtney Auger drops to 8-15 after 6.0 innings pitched and five strikeouts.
Marshall softball will host its final game of the year at the Dot, at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The occasion marks senior day for Melanie Stoehr and Rachel Rillo. A special ceremony will take place prior to the first pitch. Herd fans can catch all the action through GameTracker or by logging on to All-Access through herdzone.com.
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