Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
@HerdSB Falls in Final Game at UAB
4/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Marshall softball dropped the final game of the series to the UAB Blazers Sunday afternoon by the final of 8-1. The Herd fall to 20-15 and 6-3 in Conference USA play.
The Blazers (15-20, 6-3) struck early and often as Marshall struggled to close out innings defensively. UAB's first five runs all came with two outs.
"Anytime you surrender five unearned runs it makes it difficult to overcome," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "Especially when facing a competitive team in UAB."
The Blazers scored one in the first, four in the second and two more in the third to take a 7-0 lead. Junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) started for the Herd in the circle and was pulled after two outs in the second inning. Freshman Ali Burdette (Buffalo, W.Va.) entered the game and recorded the final out but not before UAB scored its fourth run of the inning to take the 5-0 lead.
"We had the one really poor inning early in the game where they capitalized on our mistake to go on and score four runs with two outs which set the tone," Coach Stanton said. "We need to learn to 'so what, next pitch' and have any one of this talented group step up and create sudden change."
Trailing 7-0, the Marshall offense finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth as freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) ripped her third triple of the season down the right field line scoring sophomore Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) from first.
Dixon re-entered the ball game in the third inning and allowed only one more run the rest of the way as Marshall shut down the Blazers in the fourth and fifth innings. Dixon is now tied with Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Sara Gulla (1998-01) for second all-time in program history with 727 career strikeouts.
"We cannot dwell on this game," Coach Stanton said. "We need to move forward. We will make up a game for it another weekend."
Marshall will travel next to Wright State Wednesday April 6 for a doubleheader before getting back into conference play April 9-10 at home against Charlotte.
