Marshall University Athletics
@HerdSB Prepares for Visit from MTSU
4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall softball team prepares for a visit from Conference USA opponent Middle Tennessee State. The teams are set for a doubleheader Saturday, April 23 beginning at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday April 24 at 12 p.m.
Marshall (22-23, 6-9) is coming off of being swept by 24th ranked FAU in Boca Raton, Fla. MTSU (23-21, 6-9) lost two of three to UTEP this past weekend. Both teams are fighting to stay in the race for the C-USA Tournament May 11-14. The top three teams from each division and the next two with the best winning percentage will head to Denton, Texas.
This weekend holds another importance for the Herd family as Sunday's matchup will be Marshall's 'Strike Out for Cancer" Day. The Herd players will be wearing pink jerseys and there will be a silent auction for the players' jerseys with proceeds going to the St. Mary's Foundation Pink Ribbon Fund. Fans will be allowed to bid on the jersey of each player for the Herd.
The Series...
This season will mark the first time that Middle Tennessee State has made the trip to Huntington. Marshall and MTSU have met each season since the Blue Raiders joined Conference USA for the 2014 campaign. There have only been eight previous meetings in the series history and Marshall leads 7-1. The Herd first played the Blue Raiders March 1, 1997 at the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. The Herd won, 8-7. Marshall and MTSU did not meet again for 5,109 days, February 25, 2011 at the Auburn War Eagle Classic in Auburn, Ala. Marshall lost 3-2 as MTSU scored three runs in the second and held on the rest of the way. For the next meeting it took only 1,135 days as the Herd made the trip down to Murfressboro, Tenn. for the first meeting as C-USA opponents April 5-6, 2014. Marshall swept the series in the middle of a seven-game winning streak. All three games were a shootout as the teams combined to score 45 runs (Marshall, 27-18). The Herd once again made the trek to Murfressboro April 11-12, 2015 and swept the series again. Marshall combined for 29 runs, 38 hits and 22 stolen bases including a program record 11 in game two. The series sweep came at the end of a 10-game winning streak, the second longest in program history.
Stealing the Next 60 Feet
Marshall is once again among the nation's leaders in stolen bases per game with 2.73 per game, which is ranked fourth. The Herd has finished ranked in the top 10 in the country more times than any other program since Shonda 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 eighth in the nation with .93 thefts per game. Sophomore Elicia D'Orazio is second on the team with 30. There have only been twelve 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.
Four 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.
A third career mark that Greene has established is most Sacrifice Hits. Greene dropped down her 36th career sacrifice hit in the third inning at FAU, April 16. Marcena Bertoldo (2007-2010) set the mark at 35, May 1 of 2010 in the third inning of a 5-3 loss to Houston at Dot Hicks Field. Bertoldo was one of the best and most reliable bunters in program history. Greene has established herself as one of the best at laying down the bunt, but with her speed she has been able to outrun the defense and leg out numerous infield singles. One of the reasons why Greene broke the all-time hits 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. With nine games reamining in the regular season, McCord has gunned down 20 runners and picked off four runners. The Sniper constantly making base runners keep their eyes on her instead of that next base.
The 200 Hit Plateau
Junior Morgan Zerkle is just nine hits away from becoming the 10th member of the 200 Hit Club at Marshall. She is also approaching the mark at a record pace.
The players who reached 200 hits in the least amount of games:
Kaelynn Greene - 159 (2015)
Rachel Folden - 170 (2007)
Amanda Williams - 174 (2005)
Sierra Davenport - 185 (2004)
(Morgan Zerkle 191 hits in 132 games)
