Marshall University Athletics
Softball to Start Season in the Kickin' Chicken Classic
2/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2012
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall softball will get their season started this Friday when they participate in the Kickin' Chicken Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C.
First game for the Thundering Herd is slated for Friday at 2 p.m. against Georgia Southern, followed by a second game later in the day at 6:30 p.m. versus George Mason. Marshall will play two on Saturday and one more on Sunday.
Marshall will enter the 2012 season with a veteran squad that only had three departures from last year's squad and return the top nine batters and top three pitchers.
The team's leader is senior Rebecca Gamby. The 2012 preseason all-conference USA member returns and looks to improve upon her .290 batting average and 12 home runs from a season ago. A catcher by trait, Gamby was the team leader in hits last season with 42 and runs batted in at 31.
What head coach Shonda Stanton and her team are best known for is their speed. A year ago, Marshall led the NCAA in stolen bases per game with 2.53. The green and white return all but seven from their total of 134 stolen bases a year ago and that includes Ashley Gue, who was one of four to steal more than 20 bases. The junior and Huntington native led the team in batting average with a .304 mark while swiping 21 bases.
Marshall will face four different teams in a five game schedule to be played over three days at Coastal Carolina Softball Field. The Thundering Herd will face former Southern Conference rival Georgia Southern twice, including the first game on Friday. Other teams the Herd will face are George Mason, George Washington, and Coastal Carolina.
Live stats via gametracker will be available for each contest and can be accessed through HerdZone.com and GOCCUSports.com. A live in-game chat will also be available during each game plus updates will be provided through the twitter accounts of @Herd_Zone and @MUHerd_Softball.
Kickin' Chicken Classic Game Schedule:
Friday
12:00 p.m. George Washington University vs. Georgia Southern University
2:00 p.m. Georgia Southern University vs. Marshall University
4:30 p.m. George Mason University vs. George Washington University
6:30 p.m. Marshall University vs. George Mason University
Saturday
10:00 a.m. Marshall University vs. George Washington University
12:00 p.m. George Washington University vs. Coastal Carolina University
2:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina University vs. George Mason University
4:30 p.m. Georgia Southern University vs. Marshall University
6:30 p.m. George Mason University vs. Georgia Southern University
Sunday
10:00 a.m. George Washington University vs. George Mason University
12:00 p.m. Marshall University vs. Coastal Carolina University
2:00 p.m. Coastal Carolina University vs. Georgia Southern University
