Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Liberty
@HerdSB Sweeps Doubleheader at Liberty
4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box (PDF)
Game Two Box (PDF)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Marshall softball exploded offensively for 25 hits in the doubleheader sweep at Liberty Wednesday. The Herd took game one 10-5 and game two 5-3. Marshall improved to 22-20 while Liberty falls to 21-21.
Game One: Marshall 10, Liberty 5
"Sometimes these midweek games can be challenging," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "Roll out at seven this morning but we get here to this wonderful facility and it did not take much for our girls to get up for this and ready to play ball."
Marshall got started right from the beginning as the Herd plated a run in every inning on the way to the win. Sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) got the offense rolling with a single down the left field line. She then stole second and third before senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.) was walked. Greene then stole second after the walk and as the defense threw to second D'Orazio stole home and put the first run on the board. Greene later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Liberty responded in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run. Marshall fought back to break the tie in the second. Freshman Hayden Ellis (Ashville, Ohio) led off with a double to right center. Ellis moved to third on a wild pitch and then came home on a two-out single to left by D'Orazio.
The Herd put two more runs on the board in the third as freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) drove in Greene. Then freshman Summer Collins (Logan, W.Va.), who entered to run at second for Daiss, scored from third on an infield single by senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.).
Marshall built its lead out to four, 6-2, in the fourth inning as once again Daiss drove in Greene on a single to right. Just before the hit, Greene stole second to get into scoring position and moved ahead of Sierra Davenport (2001-04) for first all-time in Marshall softball history with her 131st stolen base. It is the second career mark that Greene has established this season after breaking the all-time hits record at UAB.
"KG just did an incredible job," Coach Stanton said of her senior. "She passes Sierra Davenport for career stolen bases and it is great to see her set another record."
Liberty scored two more in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half, 6-4.
The Herd offense did not stop there as sophomore Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) led off the fifth with a walk and then came in to score from a two-run home run by Ellis. It was the first of her career and Marshall led 8-4. The Herd grabbed one more run in the sixth as Daiss drove in her third run of the game bringing home sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.).
The Flames scored one more in the bottom of the sixth but then the Herd scored another run in the top of the seventh from a solo home run by senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.). It was her seventh of the year and 20th career home run for the senior. Escareno is tied with Amanda Williams (2003-06) for ninth all-time in program history.
Junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) got the start and the win striking out nine. Dixon finished the game with 201 strikeouts for the season making her the first pitcher in Herd history to record 200 or more strikeouts three times in a career. Sara Gulla (1998-01) and Andi Williamson (2011-13) had both hit the two-century mark twice.
Defensively as well for the Herd, Taylor McCord broke the Marshall single season record for most potential base-stealers thrown out. She recorded her 16th in the second inning breaking the old mark of 15 set by Rachel Folden (2005-08) her freshman year of 2005.
Hayden Ellis was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner for her performance in game one. She was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and her first career home run. The freshman was making just her fifth start of the season.
Game Two: Marshall 5, Liberty 3.
"Pitching and defense is what gives you the chance to win ball games," Coach Stanton said. "We know our offense has been solid and we can produce runs whether with the long ball or stolen bases and putting pressure on the defense, but I was really impressed with what I saw defensively today."
Game two was a little more tightly contested as Marshall came back from an early 2-1 deficit to take the win 5-3. The Herd scored first in the top of the first inning as Taylor McCord ripped a shot up the middle that scored Kaelynn Greene.
The Flames scored two runs in the bottom of the first and looked to have some momentum. Jordan Dixon got the start once again in the circle and responded after allowing the two early runs. In the second she retired the Liberty batters in order in just five pitches.
Marshall tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third as Greene dropped down a bunt single with one out. She stole second, the 132nd of her career, to get into scoring position. With two away, McCord sent another pitch up the middle that scored Greene.
Senior Brittanie Fowler (Avon, Ohio) came in to pitch in the third inning and made big plays with two strikeouts as well as fielding her position. She sent the Flames back to the dugout in order in the third in 12 pitches and recorded an assist on a great play taking away a sure fire single up the middle.
The Herd offense broke the tie in the fourth as Hayden Ellis and freshman Samantha Loose (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) took advantage of two Liberty errors with Ellis crossing the plate. Ellis scored from third as Loose reached first on an errant throw from the pitcher.
In the bottom of the fourth, Fowler made a great play coming out of the circle to field a bunt and make the toss to first base for the final out. Had Fowler not held on to the ball, as it was just in the top of the glove, the bases would have been loaded for Liberty. Instead, Fowler made the tough play and Marshall got out of the inning with two runners stranded for the Flames.
In the fifth, Fowler responded once again after a long delay for a protested call. The umpires ended up calling no pitch and replayed the very first pitch of the inning. Fowler struck out the first batter and then struck out the last batter after Liberty had fought to load the bases. Marshall was out of a jam once again.
The Thundering Herd scored its final two runs in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Katalin Lucas led off the inning with a double to right center. Three batters later, with two outs, Madi Marshall sent a ground ball into left field that scored Lucas. Next, with Marshall at first, Elicia D'Orazio sent a high line drive all the way to the wall in left. D'Orazio took advantage of the outfield playing in a few steps to record her second triple of the season and driving in Marshall. For D'Orazio it was also the fifth triple of her career.
Liberty scored one more in the sixth and then Dixon was brought back in to close out the game. Dixon ended the seventh with a strikeout to grab the save as the Herd won 5-3.
Pitcher Brittanie Fowler was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award winner in game two. Fowler had command of her pitches and threw three and one-third innings to get the win. She scattered four hits and allowed just one run while striking out two.
"It felt good to get the wins," Coach Stanton said. "She did a great job fielding her position and I thought Fowler did an incredible job with her innings. Also Coach Bell did a great job as well in how she used Dixon today with Burdette and Fowler."
Next for the Herd is another road trip as Marshall heads down to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on the 24th ranked FAU Owls in a three-game Conference USA matchup. The series will begin with a doubleheader Saturday, April 16 with first pitch at 4 p.m.
