Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Ohio
@HerdSB Splits with Ohio as Dixon Tosses No-Hitter
3/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) tossed a no-hitter in game one as Marshall grabbed the win, 8-0 over the Ohio Bobcats (17-8). Marshall (17-11) dropped game two, 7-0.
Game 1: Marshall 8, Ohio 0 - 6 innings
Dixon was in control from start to finish in game one, rolling through the opposing batters to record her first career no-hitter. It was the Herd's first no-hitter since Andi Williamson tossed one February 9, 2013 against Florida Atlantic. For Dixon, it was also a record breaker as with the win she became Marshall's all-time leader in career wins with her 66th. She moved ahead of Cristy Waring (1995-98) and Andi Williamson (2011-13).
"How exciting for Dixon," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "To come out and break a record with a no-hitter, doesn't get much better than that. We also really clicked offensively and were able to push that run-rule across."
Dixon received a heavy dose of run support early on in the contest as Marshall scored five runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) led off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.). As freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) came to the plate, D'Orazio stole third to be 60 feet away from scoring the first run. Daiss was walked and then, taking a lesson from Greene, rounded first and stole second with the defense not watching.
Two batters later with two outs and two runners on, senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.) ripped a single into right field scoring both D'Orazio and Daiss. Next, senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) dropped a bloop single into shallow left field to put two runners on for senior Alyssa Woodrum (West Hamlin, W.Va.). Woodrum with two strikes blasted a shot to left field that took one hop off the turf and over the fence for a ground-rule double. Escareno scored and once again two runners were on for the Herd.
Freshman Samantha Loose (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) came up next and reached base on an infield error. As the throw got away and traveled into right field both Lucas and Woodrum crossed the plate to give Marshall the early 5-0 lead.
Ohio put a few base runners on throughout the game as Marshall committed two errors and Dixon walked two batters. But no Bobcat runners made it passed third base as Dixon and the defense made the plays at the biggest moments.
Marshall added two more insurance runs in the fourth. Loose led off the inning with double off the wall in left. Sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.) came in to run at second base. Marshall advanced to third from a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Jordan Colliflower (Huntington, W.Va.). Next, D'Orazio reached base on an error from the third baseman. As the throw headed toward right field, Marshall crossed home and D'Orazio advanced to second. Then, D'Orazio used her speed and excellent base running skills to score from second on an infield ground out by Greene. D'Orazio kept rounding around third and slid home as the Ohio defense attempted to throw back to the catcher.
The game ended in the bottom of the sixth with D'Orazio crossing home plate once more. She reached first on another Bobcat error, stole second and then scored from an infield single by Greene. The three runs scored for D'Orazio was a career high.
Jordan Dixon was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner pitching the no-hitter in six innings of shutout work. Dixon tossed six more strikeouts as well to give her 687 in her career. She continues to climb up the Marshall pitching ranks and every win for the junior from here on to the end of her career with the Green & White will be a new wins record.
Game 2: Ohio 7, Marshall 0
Marshall came out for game two sluggish, and even with Jordan Dixon in the circle, could not make the adjustments as Ohio came out aggressively and grabbed the win, 7-0.
"When you are at home in a non-conference double header you would like to see the team come out more relaxed," Coach Stanton said. "These games don't mean anything in the conference standings and there is no pressure. So we need to come out relaxed and loose and just go hard from the first pitch to the last pitch.
"Just as pleased as I am from game one I am just as displeased with game two."
Ohio jumped out to the early 1-0 lead and never looked back as the Bobcats took advantage of six Herd errors to go along with 10 hits. Dixon took the loss in game two and was relieved in the third inning with the one run deficit for freshman Ali Burdette (Buffalo, W.Va.). Burdette got Marshall out of a jam in the fourth inning fielding her position twice. Once, Burdette fielded the ball and made the turn and throw to third to get the lead runner. Then with bases loaded again induced a ground ball back to the circle that she grabbed and made the throw to first to end the inning.
The Herd struggled offensively against Savannah Jo Dorsey finishing the game with five hits and only twice getting a runner to third base.
Ohio added two more runs in the fifth and four in the seventh to take the lead, 7-0. Marshall put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh as freshman Hayden Ellis (Ashville, Ohio) was walked and then an infield single from Kaelynn Greene. However, once again Marshall could not get the timely hit it needed as Ohio took the win to finish the day with the split.
The Herd has another quick turnaround as Marshall welcomes the Radford Highlanders to Dot Hicks Field for another doubleheader Wednesday March 23. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and fans can tune in live to 88.1 WMUL-FM and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul for all of the action.
