Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Coastal Carolina
Herd Falls to Bulldogs and Chanticleers
3/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2014
CONWAY, S.C. - Marshall softball (3-11) suffered losses to Samford (14-4) and Coastal Carolina (9-3) Saturday in the Coastal Carolina Invitational. The Thundering Herd fell 4-1 to the Bulldogs and 2-1 against the Chanticleers.
Sophomore Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) was responsible for both of Marshall's runs on the day.
Marshall will compete against the St. Peter's Peacocks for its final game of the tournament Sunday at 10 a.m.
Samford 4, Marshall 1
Game 1 started with a leadoff strikeout, but back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Bulldogs. An RBI single and error brought two runners across the plate to give Samford a 2-0 jump start and an error on a stolen base attempt brought home the third run of the first inning, 3-0.
The Herd put up its first hit in the second inning. After a one-out error put freshman pinch runner Jessica Watts (Wayne, W.Va.) on base, Lucas hit an RBI double in the left-center gap to put Marshall on the board, 3-1.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third inning, but Samford fired back with a leadoff homer in the top of the fourth to extend its lead by one, 4-1.
Neither team was able to score through the final three innings, ending the game with a 4-1 Bulldogs victory over the Herd.
Samford outhit Marshall 6-to-5, while the Herd committed three errors to the Bulldogs' two.
Dixon (2-8) suffered the loss in her third complete game of the season.
Coastal Carolina 2, Marshall 1
Marshall was retired quickly to start Game 2 and without surrendering a single hit to the Chants, the Herd was trailing 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the first inning due to a pair of walks and a hit by pitch.
The Chants earned the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning. On two outs with a walked runner on third, the Coastal Carolina pitcher connected for an RBI single in the gap to push the Chants further ahead, 2-0.
Marshall's first hit came at the hands of freshman Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) in the top of the fourth inning, but the Herd was unable to bring her home and stayed scoreless until the final inning of action.
After a leadoff error that put sophomore Shaelynn Braxton (Woodbridge, Va.) on second, a ground out advanced her to third base. With one out on the board, an RBI single from Lucas put up the Herd's second hit and sole run of the second game, 2-1.
The pitcher's duel ended with freshman Lindsey Fadnek (Coalfield, Tenn.) taking the one-hit loss (1-2). Marshall outhit Coastal Carolina 2-to-1, and had two less errors. The Chants committed three and the Herd notched one.
