Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida International
Marshall Slugs @HerdSB to win in Game One over FIU
4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box Score (PDF)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall softball took game one from the FIU Panthers on a sloppy, rainy Saturday at Dot Hicks Field, 8-0 in five innings. The Herd (26-23, 10-9) and FIU (25-25, 8-11) got through the fifth inning of game two with Marshall taking the lead, 4-2. The game was suspended due to darkness and will be resumed Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
Game One: Marshall 8 - FIU 0 5 Innings
The game got started with thick clouds overhead and rain in the forecast. However, moving the start time up one hour to 12 p.m. helped give the Herd enough time to grab the 8-0 win in the fifth as the rain was beginning to fall.
"Hats off to our field crew," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "I thought (Chris) Luma and all the guys were outstanding just working with us today and not have any added stress. To let them do their job and our girls could just worry about playing ball."
The Panthers got on base and threatened in the first, but a great defensive play helped to eliminate a runner at third. FIU had runners in the corners with one out and attempted a double steal. Sophomore catcher Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) threw to sophomore shortstop Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) who began to chase down the runner from third. D'Orazio ran the base runner back toward third base and then made a toss to senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) who applied the tag for the second out. The inning ended on the next batter with a grounder to freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) at first.
The Herd got on the scoreboard early with two quick runs in the bottom of the first but did not score again until the fifth.
Junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) led off the first with a bunt single and then advanced to second from a bunt single by senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.). McCord reached safely from a fielder's choice as Greene was retired at second. Freshman Abigail Estrada (Torrance, Calif.) entered at first to run for McCord.
With senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.) at the plate, Estrada stole second to get both runners in scoring position. Escareno dropped a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Zerkle from third. Estrada then crossed the plate on an error at first by the second baseman.
Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) got the start and scattered four hits across five innings and struck out three. Dixon and the defense made the plays to keep the strong hitting Panthers off the bases and off the scoreboard.
Marshall erupted in the fifth to score six more runs and take the run-rule victory. McCord led off with an infield single. Escareno reached base next on an infield error. Daiss loaded the bases with a single to left. Lucas came up next and was hit by a pitch to keep the bases loaded and bring McCord home. Two batters later, with one out, sophomore Madi Marshall (St. Albans, W.Va.) blasted a grand slam to center field. It was the first home run of her career.
The Herd quickly loaded the bases again as the Panthers made two pitching changes. McCord came back up to the plate and was walked to bring in D'Orazio from third for the final run.
Sophomore Madi Marshall was named the Dot Hicks Significant Sticker Award winner for the game one win after coming into the game in the fourth inning and then crushing a grand slam to center to put Marshall up by seven.
"It was great to see Madi get that grand slam and break the game open," Coach Stanton said of her sophomore.
Game Two: Suspended - Marshall 4, FIU 2 after five innings
"We did a great job jumping out and getting the win in game one," Coach Stanton said. "In game two our offense stalled a little bit but you have to be so excited at McCord clutching it up there in the fifth to take the lead."
FIU struck first scoring one run in the top of the first. However, with a runner on first junior Jordan Dixon induced a fly out to junior Morgan Zerkle in center to end the inning.
Marshall came back with one run in the bottom of the first taking advantage of two FIU errors after senior Kaelynn Greene stole second. The throw from the catcher was off line to the left side of the bag and rolled into center. Greene took off for third and then turned and scored after the centerfielder threw the ball into the Marshall dugout.
The Panthers jumped ahead by one in the top of the third with a solo home run. Dixon responded by getting the next batter to ground out to sophomore Madi Marshall at second.
After neither team could produce a run in the fourth, the Herd took the lead in the fifth inning. Freshman Hayden Ellis (Ashville, Ohio) led off the inning with a single to right. After Madi Marshall flied out to left field, Zerkle reached on a bunt single and Greene was hit by a pitch. Taylor McCord cleared the bases with a single to center field and an error on the center fielder, giving the Herd a 4-2 lead.
The game was halted at the conclusion of the fifth inning due to darkness.
"This game is far from over," Coach Stanton said. "We have a two-inning, championship ball game to come out and play because we know both teams are fighting for a spot in the C-USA Tournament. We know they will be fired up and ready to play tomorrow. We just need to go out and compete from the first pitch to the last."
Game two will be picked up at 10 a.m. Sunday morning in the sixth inning. The final game of the series will be played after the conclusion of the halted game. Sunday is senior day and the six Marshall seniors will be honored on the field between the two games.
