Marshall University Athletics
@HerdSB Continues C-USA Action at North Texas
3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game Notes
DENTON, Texas - Marshall softball hits the road again for a three-game series with Conference USA opponent North Texas March 19-20. First pitch of the double header Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m. eastern. It the Herd's first ever trip to Denton, Texas.
Marshall (14-9) is coming off of a six-game home stretch. The Herd swept UTEP in a three-game series March 12-13. Head Coach Shonda Stanton earned her 500th career win at Marshall in the final game of the weekend. She had already reached 500 total for her career in 2015 as Stanton spent one season at IUPUI in 1999 before taking the Herd job in 2000.
Marshall used its speed to blow past the Toledo Rockets in a Tuesday afternoon double header. The Herd swiped 19 bases combined in the two games with senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.) grabbing eight and sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) with seven. D'Orazio stepped up in the leadoff spot due to the injury to junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.). Greene set the team single game record in game one with five stolen bases.
Marshall finished the home stand with a single game against #15 Kentucky. The Herd played great defensively but could not get the timely hit it needed and lost 1-0. Marshall finished its first home action of the season 5-1.
Fans can tune into the games against the Mean Green (14-9) live on 88.1 WMUL-FM and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
The Series
Marshall and North Texas first played one another February 27, 2004 in Chattanooga at the Frost Classic. The Herd won the game 4-0. The two teams next met in 2014 after the Mean Green joined Conference USA. North Texas swept the series which was played in Huntington. Marshall hosted North Texas again in 2015. Only two of the three games would be played as the third was rained out. Marshall took game one, 1-0, off an RBI single by Rebecca Myslenski in the fifth that scored Katalin Lucas. In game two the bats for both teams exploded as Marshall won 16-8. Elicia D'Orazio drove in a career high five runs and Emileigh Cooper was 4-for-4 at the plate and scored four times. The Herd recorded 16 hits in the game to go along with four stolen bases.
Going for Extra Bases
Freshman Briana Daiss keeps slugging out the extra bases this season. With 23 hits already this season, Daiss has 12 total extra base hits. She leads the Herd with four doubles, two triples and six home runs. Daiss leads the team with 49 total bases in 23 games and a slugging percentage of .766.
Here Comes The Boom
Senior Raquel Escareno came out of an early season slump in a big way. After going hitless for seven straight games, Rocky exploded in the fifth inning against Appalachian State to break the no-hitter. After being walked in her first at-bat she launched the 3-1 pitch to deep left center. Escareno came up again in the seventh and the Mountaineers walked her in five pitches. In the nightcap against Maryland Eastern-Shore, Rocky stepped up with a runner on in the third inning and blasted the second pitch of the at-bat over the wall in right center. For the weekend, Escareno increased her batting average by 93 points (.176 to .269) and raised her on-base percentage from .263 to .429 as she finished the Camel Stampede with four hits, five walks, one hit-by-pitch and one sac fly.
Great Play Behind The Plate
Sophomore catcher Taylor McCord had a great weekend at the BAMA Bash, especially on the defensive side. In game one vs. #15 Arizona McCord threw out a potential base stealer to end the 4th inning and keep the score tied at 4. In game two vs. # 14 Tennessee, McCord participated in two double plays and picked off another runner at 2nd. The first came in the second with a runner at 1st and the batter popped up a bunt attempt. McCord caught the pop up and fired down to 1st to double up the runner. In the fourth, with a runner at 1st, pitcher Jordan Dixon struck out the batter and then McCord threw down to Daiss at 1st to once again double up the runner. In the same inning after a two-out double, a pinch runner was entered at second. On the very next pitch, a pitch out was called and McCord immediately picked off the runner at 2nd to end the inning. Against #4 Alabama, McCord threw out a would-be base stealer trying to take 3rd in the top of the 7th to get the final out. In the second matchup with #14 Tennessee, McCord and shortstop Elicia D'Orazio got together for a 2-6-2 double play to end the second inning. With runners in the corners, the Vols attempted a double steal. McCord first threw to D'Orazio at 2nd for the 1st out and then D'Orazio threw back home to McCord to complete the double play.
A Powerful Start
Freshman infielder Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) hit a 2-run walk-off home run in her very first collegiate at-bat coming in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning vs. Alabama State at the Trojan Invite Feb. 14. Daiss is the fourth player in Marshall softball history to hit a home run in her very first at-bat and the first to do so as a walk-off.
First Division I at-bat & First career HR in Marshall history:
2011 - Feb. 11th Amanda Lara (JUCO transfer) at USF - leadoff first game of the year.
2011 - Feb. 11th Taylor Winton (Fr.) at USF - pinch hit 7th inning 2-run HR Marshall lost 8-4.
2014 - Feb. 28th Taylor Estes (Fr.) at Coastal Carolina - pinch hit 5th inning solo HR Marshall lost 10-1.
2016 - Feb. 14th Briana Daiss (Fr.) vs. Alabama State - pinch hit 8th inning 2-run HR Marshall won 4-2
Accolades
Briana Daiss was named Conference USA Co-Player of the Week Feb. 15th for her performance in Marshall's two games Sunday. Daiss combined to go 4 of 5 (.800) at the plate, 7 RBI, 3 runs, 2 HR and one 2B. She had an on base percentage of .800 and slugged 2.200 with 11 total bases. Her second home run came in the top of the 8th inning against Troy to give the Herd a 7-5 lead and the eventual win.
Taylor McCord, Briana Daiss and Elicia D'Orazio were named to the BAMA Bash All-Tournament Team.
Jordan Dixon was named Conference USA Co-Pitcher of the Week March 14 for her performance over the weekend against UTEP. Dixon earned the win in all three games and struck out 17 with an ERA of 1.37.
A First at a Clutch Time
Sophomore catcher Taylor McCord hit her first career home run with two-outs in the bottom of the 7th inning against Alabama State to tie the game at 1 and force extra innings.
Freshman Firsts
Briana Daiss -1st hit, home run and RBI vs. Alabama State 2/14
Samantha Loose -1st hit at Troy 2/14
Abigail Estrada - 1st hit vs. Hofstra 2/20
Ali Burdette - (Pitching) 1st strikeout at Troy 2/14, 1st win vs. LIU 2/19,
(Hitting) 1st hit vs. LIU 2/19
Hayden Ellis - 1st hit, 2RBI 2B vs. LIU 2/19
Cheyenne Meyer - 1st hit vs. Southern Illinois 2/19
Summer Collins - 1st run vs. Southern Illinois 2/19, 1st SB (2) vs. Saint Louis 2/21
Abigail Tolbert - (Pitching) 1st strikeout vs. #14 Tennessee 2/27
Reaching the Century Mark in Thefts
Junior Morgan Zerkle entered the fifth game of the season, and the 114th of her career with 98 career stolen bases. In the first inning, Zerkle stole home in a double steal attempt as Kaelynn Greene took second. Zerkle reached base in the second inning with an infield and promptly stole second on the very next pitch. The 100th theft of her career. She is the fourth player in Thundering Herd history to reach the century mark in stolen bases. Zerkle is also the first to reach the mark in just her third season. Marshall is the only program in Conference USA to have more than one player in triple digits.
And now Kaelynn Greene has joined Zerkle in the 100 Thefts Club. In the first inning of the 180th game of her career, Greene reached base on an infield single. She stole second and then took third to reach the century mark. Marshall now has FIVE players with over 100 career stolen bases.
Stealing at a Record Pace
Kaelynn Greene has grabbed 20 stolen bases over a 10 game span. Greene had a 6-game streak of two steals per game and then finished with eight in two games vs. Toledo March 15. She stole five bases in game one, a team record. Greene is currently one SB ahead of Morgan Zerkle's national leading pace from 2015. Through 23 games Greene has 28 steals and in 2015 Zerkle had 27.
Elicia D'Orazio has also jumped on fast pace with steals as she nabbed 10 over a five game span including four in a win over Toledo. Marshall as a team stole 19 bases in double header with Toledo March 15.
The 200 Hit Plateau
In 2015 at UTEP, senior Kaelynn Greene became only the 9th player in program history to reach 200 career hits. She began the year in 5th place with 213. With her 3rd and final hit of the game vs. Maryland Eastern-Shore in the Camel Stampede (March 5), Greene moved into 4th place all-time passing Carrie Hinkle (1994-97). Hinkle was the 1st player at Marshall to reach 200 hits and held the career record until Sierra Davenport (2001-2004) took over at the top in 2004. Amanda Williams (2003-2006) then claimed the number 1 position in 2006 only to be passed in 2008 by Rachel Folden (2005-2008). Greene now sits in 3rd place after passing Davenport. Greene needs another 25 hits this season to move into 1st place all-time.
Junior Morgan Zerkle, who was the fastest player in Marshall history to reach 100 career hits in 76 games, is only 11 hits away from joining the 200 Club. She will be the 10th player in Herd History to reach 200.
Racking up the Wins and K's
Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon earned her 63rd career win in game one of the double header with Toledo (March 15). She needs three more wins to become Marshall all-time wins leader.
Dixon also pitched her 50th career complete game against Alabama State (Now 58 5th all-time)
Dixon recorded her 600th career strikeout with her first K of the game against #15 Arizona at the BAMA Bash (Feb. 26). She became only the 4th pitcher in MUSB History to reach 600.
Dixon moved ahead of Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Cristy Waring (1995-98) for 3rd all-time in the second inning against Appalachian State at the Camel Stampede (March 4).
With 111 K's she has 664 for her career (3rd all-time). She needs 63 more to pass Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Sara Gulla (1998-2001) for 2nd all-time and 68 more K's to move ahead of Andi Williamson (2011-2013) for 1st place all-time in Herd History.
