Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Arizona
@HerdSB Drops One Final Game at BAMA Bash
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score
Coach Stanton Post Game Video
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Marshall softball fell in the final game of the BAMA Bash weekend to the #15 Arizona Wildcats 6-3. The Herd is now 6-6 this season.
Marshall started the scoring in the top of the first as leadoff junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) ran out an infield single. Zerkle stole second and then advanced to third on a groundout by sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.). With freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) at the plate Zerkle stole home as Arizona's catcher tossed the ball back to the pitcher. For Zerkle it was her 12th stolen base of the season and 107th of her career. Daiss followed up with a laser shot to the right center field gap for a two-out double but Arizona closed out the inning with Marshall leading 1-0.
Arizona (11-5) answered with five runs in the bottom of the first to take a four-run lead, 5-1.
Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) settled down from there and only allowed one more run throughout the rest of the game.
"At one point in time very early on it looked like that game could get out of control," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "I was pleased that Dixon responded, she settled in, she continued to grind and fight. What we're asking out of her is a lot. She is getting the game ball quite a bit and in a short turnaround but I am very pleased with what she was able to do against some of the best hitters in the country."
Arizona scored one more in the fourth to put the score at 6-1.
Marshall's offense was shut down with the exception of a single from D'Orazio from the second inning through the fifth. The Herd grabbed two more runs to cut the lead to three in the sixth inning. Zerkle led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.). Next, D'Orazio ran out an infield single that put runners in the corners with Zerkle at third. Daiss then sent a shot high into the air in the left field that got lost in the sun and dropped right behind the Wildcat defender. Zerke scored from third.
Sophomore Taylor McCord continued her great weekend as she sent a grounder into center field for a base hit that scored D'Orazio. Marshall now trailed by three.
"McCord is probably one of the biggest bright spots of the weekend," Coach Stanton said about her catcher. "Our whole staff is really impressed with her. Her maturity, her development back there and her growth at such an instrumental part of our game outside of the pitching circle she was huge for us. And now she is really stepping up at the plate as well."
In the bottom of the sixth Arizona got one runner on but the Herd defense clamped down as a grounder rolled to sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.) at second for the final out. Marshall had a great game at second base finishing with five assists, three putouts and no errors.
Arizona closed out Marshall in the top of the seventh to earn the victory.
Taylor McCord, Briana Daiss and Elicia D'Orazio were all named to the BAMA Bash All-Tournament team.
Next up for Marshall is the Camel Stampede hosted by Campbell University, March 4-6. The Herd will face Appalachian State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Loyola-Chicago and Campbell. First game for Marshall will be Friday, March 4, vs. Appalachian State with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern.
