Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Toledo
@HerdSB Blows by Rockets For Two Wins
3/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall softball extends its winning streak to five after sweeping the Toledo Rockets, 5-3 and 8-3, Tuesday afternoon at Dot Hicks Field. The Herd's base runners swiped 19 stolen bases in the wins. Senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.) set a Marshall single game record with five thefts in game one.
Game 1: Marshall 5, Toledo 3
"I think our base running was the difference today," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "I would have liked to have seen us hit the ball harder. Greene had eight stolen bases for the day and Elicia had seven so great heads up base running."
Marshall (14-8) took advantage of its speed to move runners into scoring position all day and it came right from the start in game one against Toledo (4-19).
Greene with her first at-bat reached first on a bunt single and then two pitches later stole second for her first swipe of the day. Now in scoring position, freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) ripped a single down the left field line scoring the speedster Greene. Marshall took the lead 1-0.
Junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) did not have her normal day with strikeouts but did keep the Toledo batters off balance inducing many ground outs and fly outs through the first five innings.
The Herd scored again in the bottom of the third as freshman Al Burdette (Buffalo, W.Va.) blasted the first home run of her career over the left center field wall. Senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) followed up with a two-out triple. However, Marshall could not push any more runs across and held the lead 2-0.
In the fourth inning Marshall took advantage of four walks and five stolen bases. Sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) was issued the first walk with one out. D'Orazio then stole second and took third with Greene at the plate. Greene was walked after a seven pitch at-bat and immediately headed for second after rounding first catching the Toledo defense sleeping and not covering the base. As she headed for second, D'Orazio stole home to give Marshall a 3-0 lead.
With Daiss at the plate, Greene stole third and then came home when Daiss launched a shot to center for a sacrifice fly. The Herd led 4-0.
In the fifth senior Alyssa Woodrum (West Hamlin, W.Va.) stepped in to pinch hit and attacked the very first pitch and belted one over the left field wall. It was her first home run of the season and Marshall led 5-0.
"We have a lot of different kids who can do different things for us and it is hard to be patient," Coach Stanton said. "But it's great to see Alyssa come in when her number is called and get the long ball. It's nice to see that senior leadership, to continue to work hard and then when you're called to do the job."
Toledo came out swinging in the top of the sixth scoring three runs to cut the lead to two. But, Dixon and the defense got out of the inning with the score 5-3. The score remained the same for the final two half innings. Dixon earned her 10th win of the season and 63rd of her career. She is just three wins shy of becoming Marshall's all-time wins leader.
Kaelynn Greene was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner for game one going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs, one walk and the single game record of five stolen bases.
Game 2: Marshall 8, Toledo 3
The Herd once again used the speed game mixed with timely hitting to take the early lead on Toledo and then put the Rockets away.
Freshman Ali Burdette got the start in the circle for Marshall and went the distance to grab her fourth win of the season.
"I was really impressed with Burdette in the circle in game two," Coach Stanton said. "We really need someone to step up for us and to give Dixon that rest in game two and Burdette has done an incredible job."
In the first inning sophomore Elicia D'Orazio and senior Kaelynn Greene took up right where they left off getting on base with back to back singles and then grabbing one stolen base each. Both players came in to score from a two RBI double down the right field line by sophomore Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.). Marshall increased the early lead to 3-0 when freshman Summer Collins, who had been previously entered at first after Daiss was walked, scored on sacrifice fly to center by senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.).
Marshall tacked on one more run each in the second and the third to go up 5-0. In the second, sophomore Jordan Colliflower (Huntington, W.Va.) came in to run for senior Alyssa Woodrum after a base hit, and then scored from third on an infield single by D'Orazio. In the third, McCord led off with a walk and was replaced at first by freshman Abigail Estrada (Torrance, Calif.). Estrada stole third to be 60 feet away when senior Katalin Lucas dropped down a perfectly placed squeeze bunt allowing Estrada to score.
Toledo finally got on the board in the fourth with a solo home run but then Marshall came right back in the bottom of the inning with two more to put the score at 7-1. McCord drove in two more runs as once again D'Orazio and Greene were on base as McCord sent a pitch into right field.
The Herd put one more insurance run on the scoreboard in the fifth as sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.) came through with a RBI single to right scoring Colliflower.
Toledo took advantage of two Marshall errors in the sixth to plate two runs and make it a five run ballgame, 8-3. However, Burdette and the defense exited out of the seventh inning quickly with only one Rocket on base to get the double header sweep.
Taylor McCord was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner for game two going 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks, a double and four RBI.
It is another quick turnaround for the Herd as next Marshall welcomes #15 Kentucky to Dot Hicks Field Wednesday March 16 for a single game. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
