Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida Atlantic
@HerdSB Drops Final Game at #24 FAU
4/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
BOCA RATON, FLA. - Marshall softball fell in the final game at 24th ranked FAU, 5-0 Sunday afternoon. Marshall drops to 22-23 overall and 6-9 in Conference USA. FAU improves to 36-7 and 13-2 in conference action.
The Marshall offense struggled again at the plate recording just two hits. Junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) notched the first one in the top of the first inning running out an infield single. For Zerkle this weekend was her first game action since game three versus UTEP back on March 13.
"It's nice to see Zerkle back in the lineup," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "I know we don't have her in the outfield yet but it's great. Aaron, our athletic trainer and the Marshall Sports Medicine staff have done a tremendous job with her getting her back sooner than we anticipated.
"It also goes to show her work ethic in getting back on the field."
Junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) had the start for the Herd and shut down FAU in the first inning for the first time in the series. Aided in the first inning effort was an incredible over-the-shoulder, diving catch by sophomore shortstop Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.). D'Orazio tracked the ball back into left field and made the call for it and laid out to make the grab for the second out of the inning.
"Our athletes played some great defense," Coach Stanton said. "We did some things very well and Elicia made a couple of great catches coming all the way back in left field from short."
FAU started the scoring with one run in each the second, third and fourth innings. In each inning, Dixon and the Marshall defense came through with great play or a tough strikeout to get out of the inning and not allow any more damage in that inning.
In the third with runners at second and third, sophomore catcher Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) picked off the backside runner at second to record out number two. One pitch later, Dixon registered her third strikeout of the game to end the inning and strand a runner at third.
The Owls scored two more in the fifth that led to a pitching change for Marshall as freshman Ali Burdette (Buffalo, W.Va.) entered the contest. The next two hitters grounded out to third and short as senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) and D'Orazio made great plays to record the outs.
In the bottom of the sixth, trailing 5-0, FAU had runners in the corners and attempted a double steal. McCord threw down to D'Orazio at second who quickly turned and fired back to McCord at the plate to retire the lead runner trying to steal home. That play ended the inning.
"I felt like our kids didn't have the defeatist attitude and that they were more plugged in," Coach Stanton said. "We just didn't get the result offensively. I saw a difference in Dixon as well in the way she responded after allowing the runs and coming back with strikeouts."
The Herd recorded its second hit in the top of the seventh inning as senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.) dropped a one out, bloop single into centerfield.
The Herd will get to spend the next two weeks at home as both Middle Tennessee State and FIU will travel to Huntington and Marshall does not have any more non-conference doubleheaders.
"It's an opportunity to work and that is what is exciting," Coach Stanton. "A working culture can equal a winning culture and I am excited about our group because we have an opportunity to work with some of them individually on some things that we can tweak with nine games remaining.
"That gives us a lot of time to prepare for these weekends especially being home two of the three."
Middle Tennessee State will come to Dot Hicks Field first, April 23-24 with the Saturday doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
