Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Middle Tennessee State
Dixon in Command as @HerdSB Sweeps MTSU
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box (PDF)
Game Two Box (PDF)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) struck out 22 batters across two games Saturday afternoon at Dot Hicks Field as the Marshall softball team (24-23, 8-9) swept a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee State (23-23, 6-11).
The Herd took the first game 8-0 in five innings and won the second game by a score of 6-0. Dixon threw a two-hit shutout in both games. It was the first doubleheader shutout sweep at home for Marshall since May 5, 2012 against UCF.
"It was a great, fun and full day of softball," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "Our backs were against the wall and I was really proud of the way our group came out and to start so strong and set the tone early and often."
Game One: Marshall 8, Middle Tennessee 0 (5 innings)
Dixon started the opening game by giving up a walk and a bunt single to the first two batters she faced. After striking out the next two, the Herd escaped the inning without giving up a run by picking off the runner on first.
Marshall then struck quickly, as junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) hit a solo home run to center field with one out. It was Zerkle's second home run of the season and it was also the first time she started in centerfield since her March 13th injury. She was the designated player at FAU this past weekend. It was the only run for Marshall in the first, but it was all that Dixon needed.
The junior hurler came back strong in the second recording two more strikeouts including the 770th of her career. But she wasn't done.
Dixon struck out two more in the third, all three batters in the fourth and one more in the fifth to reach 10 strikeouts for the first time since game one at North Texas on March 19.
"Dixon was dominant today," Coach Stanton said. "She ended up with 22 Ks and two shutouts for the day and we played strong defense behind her. Very proud of Dixon today."
The Herd offense continued to give the run support scoring two more in the second. Senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) began her great day with a double into left center. Two batters later, with two outs, sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) ripped one up the middle that scored Lucas. Senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.) followed up with a bunt single. Then D'Orazio and Greene pulled off the double steal and advanced the next 60 feet after an errant throw from the catcher trying to get D'Orazio at third. The sophomore crossed the plate and the Herd led 3-0.
Marshall put up two more on the board with a two-out rally in the third. Freshman Hayden Ellis (Ashville, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice. With Ellis on first, Lucas drove a shot out to deep left field to plate the two runs. It was the second home run of the season for Lucas and gave her six total bases in two at-bats.
The Herd got shut out in the fourth but scored three more in the fifth to grab the run-rule win. Sophomore Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) led off with her second hit of the game. Freshman Briana Daiss then reached from an error by the shortstop that put two on with McCord in scoring position. Ellis followed through with a hit up the middle that scored McCord. Lucas stepped up next and delivered with her third hit of the game that brought sophomore Jordan Colliflower (Huntington, W.Va.) home who was placed on base for Daiss. Two batters later D'Orazio reached on a fielder's choice as Lucas touched home to give Marshall the 8-0 win.
The Herd finished with 11 hits in the five inning win and the Blue Raiders managed only five base runners.
"Offensively we got the run support we needed," Coach Stanton said. "Kady (Lucas) was phenomenal. She got the long ball and was 3-for-3 there in game one. Just really proud of our group up and down the lineup. Everyone was contributing today."
Senior Katalin Lucas was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award Winner for game one going 3-for-3 at the plate with a single, double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Game Two: Marshall 6, Middle Tennessee 0
"Definitely saw a difference with this team today," Coach Stanton said. "For some reason over the last few weeks we have been really uptight and pressing things and you could feel that pressure. But today we were loose. It was nice to see them smiling and playing the game and a lot of fun to watch them.
"They looked like they really loved to play ball today."
Jordan Dixon stayed on fire for game two sending 12 more batters back to the dugout with strikeouts and allowing just two hits and no walks.
Once again, Dixon allowed a single to the leadoff batter Precious Birdsong. The runner was retired as Taylor McCord gunned down her 21st would-be base stealer of the season. It was just the second time all year that Birdsong was caught stealing. Dixon struck out the next two batters to end the first.
This time offensively, Marshall was shut out for the first two innings but then came roaring back in the third with four runs.
After Dixon retired the side in the top of the third all by strikeouts, the bats got rolling as sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.) led off with a hit-by-pitch. Elicia D'Orazio reached on a fielder's choice that Marshall was also safe at second. Two batters later with one out, Kaelynn Greene put down a bunt single that loaded the bases for McCord. The sophomore catcher delivered with a two RBI single into left field as both Marshall and D'Orazio crossed the plate.
Freshman Summer Collins (Logan, W.Va.) was placed out at second for McCord after she took the next base on the throw home. With two runners in scoring position senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.) stepped up to the plate. The fourth pitch of her at-bat bounced away from the catcher and Greene scored on the wild pitch. Collins moved up to third and then scored on a deep sacrifice fly by Escareno to right center. Marshall had the lead, 4-0.
The Thundering Herd scored its final two runs in the fourth. Madi Marshall once again led off, this time with a single down the left field line. D'Orazio came up next and sent a ball right passed the pitcher into center to put two runners on base. Two batters later Greene slapped one back to the pitcher and was retired at first but Marshall came home to give the Herd a five-run cushion. D'Orazio scored the final run of the game as McCord ripped her second hit of the game into center. McCord finished game two with three RBI.
Dixon continued on cruise control, firing away and striking out MTSU batters in multiples. She recorded at least one strikeout per inning, including the final out of the game, on her way to the complete game shutout win.
"We tell them all the time that game time is their time and we just want them to go out there and excel," Coach Stanton said. "We have too much talent for this ball club not to go out there and play relaxed and loose. So we're really proud of them to show that mental toughness and come out and compete from the first pitch to the last pitch."
Jordan Dixon was named the Dot Hicks Significance Sticker Award Winner for game two pitching all seven innings with 12 strikeouts and allowing just two hits and no walks. Dixon was masterful for the Herd at a time when Marshall needed the wins to stay in the race for the Conference USA Tournament.
Marshall will finish the series with the Blue Raiders tomorrow with first pitch set for 12 p.m. The Sunday game will be Marshall's "Strike Out Cancer" day as the Herd players will be wearing special pink jerseys. There will also be a silent auction for the jerseys as proceeds will go to St. Mary's Foundation Pink Ribbon Fund. The Herd will also have a couple cancer survivors out to throw the ceremonial first pitch.
