Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Morehead State
Softball Breaks Out The Bats in a 9-4 Win
2/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2012
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Marshall would score nine runs in a 9-4 comeback win over Morehead State in the night cap of the College of Charleston Cougar Classic.
The game would be called in the top of the sixth due to rain, thus ending the match-up after five full innings.
Morehead State (1-3) jumped out to a quick 3-0 led in the first inning thanks to three hits that would each plate a run allowing the Eagles to have the early advantage.
Marshall (6-3) quickly answered in the next inning with two runs. Jessica Hughes hit her first career triple that pushed Taylor Thompson across the plate. Bri Anna Hope drove in Hughes with a single in the next at-bat narrowing the MSU lead to 3-2.
Erika Bennett would check into the game starting in the second inning in place of the starter Natalee Pulver and would nearly shut down the Eagles during her time in the game. Bennett would not allow a hit and would be credited with one run to her in the end. The senior worked 3.2 innings and notched her first victory of the year.
The story of the contest was the bats of the Thundering Herd. Marshall would come alive at the plate starting in the fourth. Four hits would be notched by the green and white including a two-run, pinch hit double by Jessica Ferrick that grazed the left field chalk and brought Taylor Thompson and Jessica Hughes around to give MU a 4-3 lead.
In the fifth inning Marshall put a five spot on the scoreboard with four hits, including three straight to start the inning. The big hit of the fifth was from Hope who supplied a bases clearing three run double. The junior finished the game with a 3-for-3 day and the previously mentioned three RBI's. The Herd would end the inning with a 9-3 lead
"We really pounded the ball. I think the score wasn't indicative of how we really stroked the ball," said head coach Shonda Stanton after the win. "Our hitters did an incredible job at the plate, adjusting regardless of the pitcher they put in there."
"Really proud of (Erika) Bennett, She did a quality job coming in relief. She gave us really good quality innings, so I'm really pleased with what she gave us."
In the end, eight different members of the Herd would finish with a hit for a season high 12 hits in the game. This included two each from Hughes and catcher Rebecca Gamby. Senior Hughes also scored three times, another career high for her. She also paired up with Thompson to become the first duo to each score three runs in a game since Sierra Davenport and current assistant coach Amanda Williams did against Indiana on Feb. 8, 2004.
Stanton continued her praise of her team's performance, "So many people are doing so many great things offensively. Hughes stepped into the DP role and came up with a triple that was big. Gamby continues to hit the ball. We had two kids score twice, so our slappers are doing good things. Bri Hope came up big, going 3-for-3. And I can't say enough about Jess Ferrick. She has a pinch hit double and pinch hit home run for us."
"I'm really excited with our total team effort. We are making plays defensively and it was just a huge team win."
Morehead State would score one more run in the bottom of the fifth with a RBI single from Kayla Brill, who was one of five Eagle batters to collect a hit. Jami Whitcomb (1-1) would earn the loss in 3.1 innings of work. MSU would use three total pitchers in the game.
The Herd returns to the field tomorrow for a game with the host College of Charleston. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Due to rain in the forecast for the overnight and the day tomorrow, please stay tuned to www.HerdZone.com and the twitter account @Herd_Zone for updates on tomorrow's match-up.
