Marshall University Athletics
@HerdSB Travels to Boca to Face 24th Ranked FAU
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game Notes
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BOCA RATON, FLA. - Marshall softball heads for the skies as the team flies down to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on the 24th ranked FAU Owls April 16-17. FAU leads Conference USA at 10-2 in league play while Marshall is tied for second in the East at 6-6.
The Herd is coming off of a doubleheader sweep at Liberty this past Wednesday in which the Marshall offense registered 25 hits, 15 runs and 10 stolen bases combined in the wins. The Herd defense played well making the big plays when it was needed to help limit the Flames to eight runs on 14 combined hits and left 14 runners on base.
This weekend, Marshall and FAU will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. Fans can tune in to the game live on 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul. The Sunday single game, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be televised by American Sports Network and will be broadcast by WMUL.
The Series...
Marshall and FAU met for the first time in February of 2013 at the USF DeMarini Tournament. The Herd won the first two matchups 3-1 and 2-1. Marshall won the second game with a walk-off Sac Fly in the 8th by freshman Alyssa Woodrum that scored senior Jazmine Valle from third. The two teams met up again in early March of 2014 at the beginning of the FAU tournament. The teams split the doubleheader March 5th as Marshall took the first game 8-5 and then lost 4-0, and then lost game three 9-6. FAU won the single game In the game one win freshman Morgan Zerkle stole three bases and sophomore Katalin Lucas hit her second home run of the season. The last meeting came in Huntington April 18, 2015. Marshall and FAU split the Saturday doubleheader as FAU took game one 3-0 and then Marshall won game two 6-5. The Herd won in another walk-off as sophomore Morgan Zerkle led off with a single and advanced to second from a sacrifice bunt by junior Kaelynn Greene. Zerkle scored from a RBI 1B through the left side by freshman Elicia D'Orazio. Game three was rained out.
Stealing the Next 60 Feet
Marshall is once again among the nation's leaders in stolen bases per game with 2.93 per game, which is ranked second. The Herd has finished ranked in the top 10 in the country more times than any other program since Coach Stanton took over in 2000. The Herd is looking to finish in the top 10 for the 10th time since 2000 and to lead the country for the third time (2011 & 2015). Marshall is led by senior Kaelynn Greene with 42, is tied for second in the nation with 1.00 thefts per game. Sophomore Elicia D'Orazio is second on the team with 30. There have only been nine games this season in which Marshall has not recorded at least one stolen base and ten games in which Marshall has swiped five or more. The Herd stole 19 in a doubleheader win over Toledo (3/15) with nine in game one and 10 in game two.
Three More All-Time Records Fall
Senior Kaelynn Greene and junior Jordan Dixon continue to set standards for Marshall. Greene slapped her way into history in the 7th inning at UAB April 2nd with her 267th career hit. The outfielder passed by 4-time All-American Rachel Folden (2005-08) in her 199th career game. Greene later recorded number 268 to help the Herd win in the 9th inning scoring Elicia D'Orazio from third.
At Liberty on April 13th, Greene stole her way to the top as she swiped second in the fourth inning. It was her third steal of the game and moved her ahead of Marshall Hall of Famer Sierra Davenport (2001-04) with her 131st. Davenport broke the Herd record in 2003 as she passed Stefanie Cook (1995-98) who had 78. Davenport is the MAC's all-time leader in steals, but now sits in second place as Greene sets another record.
Against Wright State April 9th, Dixon eclipsed yet another pitching mark as she recorded her 732nd career strikeout in the 3rd inning of game two. As a freshman Dixon shattered the Herd rookie record of 160 (set by Cristy Waring in 1995) with 245. She then pitched the second most Ks in a season at Marshall with 308 as a sophomore, and then with her 179th strikeout of 2016 she moved ahead of Andi Williamson (2011-13) for the most ever. Dixon ended the day at 737 career Ks.
Taylor "Sniper" McCord
The sophomore catcher has been impressing with her arm strength and quick release since she first stepped onto the field for the Herd as a freshman. In her very first game in 2015 against Army, in her very first inning, McCord picked off a runner at second with the bases loaded for the first out of the fifth inning. The "Sniper" finished her freshman season with five pickoffs and tossed out six would-be base stealers. At Liberty, McCord threw out another runner headed for second and broke Marshall's single season record of 15 caught stealing set in 2005 by Rachel Folden. McCord has also picked off three runners already this season and has threatened many more with constant throws to bases to keep runners from getting a big lead.
