Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Marshall @ Maryland Eastern Shore
@HerdSB Sweeps Day Two of the Camel Stampede
3/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 Box (Loyola-Chicago)
Game 2 Box (UMES)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Marshall softball grabs two more victories on day two of the Camel Stampede. The Herd (9-7) defeated Loyola-Chicago 2-1 and then University of Maryland Eastern-Shore 11-4.
Game 1: Marshall 2, Loyola-Chicago 1
Marshall came out and scored early with two runs in the bottom of the first and then junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) and the defense held tight on Loyola-Chicago (11-4) only allowing two hits and one run.
"It was nice to see us win a one-run ball game," Head softball coach Shonda Stanton said. "Dixon was very strong taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Anytime you can have a pitcher go out there who is reliable like that we're going to see good results."
The Herd came out offensive with the wheels spinning as junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.), senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif), freshmen Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) and Abigail Estrada (Torrance, Calif.) combined for six stolen bases in the bottom of the first. With Greene and freshman Summer Collins (Logan, W.Va.) on base, sophomore Taylor McCord (Gilbet, Ariz.) sent a line drive to the base of the wall in right field that drove in both runners and gave the Herd a 2-0 lead.
"With scoring two runs in the first I would have liked to have seen us have more quality at-bats," Coach Stanton said. "We had a few base running mistakes that prevented us from plating a few more runs but it was nice to see us hang on and make the plays defensively."
From there Dixon and the defense took over. Only four Ramblers reached base throughout the game as Dixon struck out 10, moving her career total to 636. She struck out five of six batters between the third and the fourth innings.
Taylor McCord was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner going 2-3 at the plate and driving in both of the Herd's runs with a 2-RBI double in the first inning.
Game 2: Marshall 11, UMES 4
The Herd scored 11 runs on UMES (4-7) for the second consecutive day as the lineup produced once again from top to bottom.
"The top of our lineup did a great job," Coach Stanton said. "They are tremendous athletes and KG (Greene) and Z (Zerkle) had great lines and did some great things for us. But once again we saw production up and down the lineup."
Senior Brittanie Fowler (Avon, Ohio) got the start in the circle for Marshall. The Hawks threatened in the top of the first inning as the bases were loaded with one out. Fowler got the next batter to send a grounder to senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) at third who immediately threw home to freshman catcher Hayden Ellis (Ashville, Ohio) who touched home and then threw to freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) at first to complete the 5-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.
The Herd scored two runs in the bottom of the first as the base runners combined for four more stolen bases. Kaelynn Greene scored on a sac-fly to right field from senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.). Abigail Estrada came in to pinch run for Daiss at first who was walked, and stole two bases including home to give Marshall a 2-0 lead.
The Hawks responded with two runs in the top of the second but Marshall took back the lead in the third scoring three more.
Morgan Zerkle and Greene both got on base with infield singles, stole another base and then Zerkle scored on an errant throw by the catcher to third. Greene advanced to third while Zerkle crossed the plate. Greene came home when Daiss reached base safely on an error from the third baseman. Daiss then scored from a RBI single by Taylor McCord to center.
Maryland Eastern-Shore scored two more runs in the top of the fourth and then freshman Ali Burdette came in to pitch for Marshall. Burdette closed out the inning and the next three innings for the win.
The Herd recorded some more insurance runs scoring one in the fifth and exploding for five more in the sixth inning.
Lucas started the inning with a single to left and then was followed by sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) with a base hit to center. Zerkle loaded the bases running out an infield single. Greene came up next and out ran an infield single scoring Lucas from third and then D'Orazio scored with excellent base running taking advantage of the Hawks defense. With two runners on, Daiss stepped up and the freshman launched her fifth home run of the season to left center giving the Herd a seven run lead.
"Daiss is fun to watch," Coach Stanton said of the freshman slugger. "Anytime she swings the bat you know she can change the game. Elicia had great base running on the play before that, so she could have had a grand slam had Elicia not been so good at her job and sliding across the plate."
Kaelynn Greene was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner going 3-4 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases.
Marshall will finish up the Camel Stampede Sunday afternoon against the host school Campbell University with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. Fans can once again tune in to 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul for the broadcast of the game.
