Marshall University Athletics
Softball Opens Fall Season Sunday
9/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Huntington, W.Va. - The Marshall University softball team opens up its fall 2011 season on September 25, as The Herd play host to West Virginia State. The scheduled first pitch for the double header is set for noon at Dot Hicks Field.
Head Coach Shonda Stanton and the rest of the squad are excited to open the early season with a double header at home. Stanton notes, "Our team will be challenged with great competition this fall, and West Virginia State is just the start of what is to come. We have already seen competitive spirits in practice, so we will gladly welcome new opponents this weekend."
The Herd returns 16 letter-winners from the previous season and certainly expects the core group of veterans to set a framework of winning immediately. Of those 16 letter-winners returns Ashley Gue (Huntington, W.Va./Cabell Midland HS), who led Marshall in batting average throughout the spring of 2011 with an average of .304. Alysia Hively (Clay, W.Va./Clay County HS) was second in batting average with a .292 average and first in slugging percentage, belting a .607 average.
MU also returns its top strikeout pitcher in Andi Williamson (Harts, W.Va./University of Tennessee), who struck out 99 batters throughout the 2010-11 campaign. Natalee Pulver (Alta Loma, Calif./Etiwanda HS), who led the Herd in wins and innings pitched and Erika Bennett (Hereford, Ariz./Miami Dade College), who came in relief the most times each return for Marshall as well. Jessica Ferrick (Centreville, Va./Centreville HS) completes the group of returning pitchers.
Marshall led the nation in stolen bases throughout last season and will look to continue seeing success on the basepath with a number of the players who stole numerous bases returning. Morgan Cottrell (Spencer, W.Va./Roane County HS) and Jessica Hughes (Stillwater, Okla./Stillwater HS) each recorded 23 steals in 2010-11. Gue and Taylor Thompson (Graham, Wash./Graham Kapowsin HS) were right behind the leaders with 21.
Upcoming 2011 Fall Schedule:
September 25th vs. WV State (DH) 12:00 P.M.
October 2nd @Ohio (DH) 12:00 P.M.
October 8th vs. Univ. Kentucky (DH) 1:00 P.M.
October 9th Marshall vs. Morehead 11 A.M.
Ohio Valley vs. Morehead 1:00 P.M.
Marshall vs. Ohio Valley 3:00 P.M.
