Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
@HerdSB Drops Game One to Charlotte
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
Coach Stanton Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Home runs in the sixth and seventh innings cost the Marshall softball team in a 5-2 loss to the Charlotte 49ers Saturday at Dot Hicks Field.
The loss dropped the Thundering Herd to 20-18 overall and 6-4 in Conference USA. Charlotte improved to 22-16 overall and 3-7 in Conference USA with the win.
It was a cold and blustery day in Huntington as the game time was pushed back two hours due to morning snow. The offense never really warmed up for Marshall as he Herd recorded only five hits.
"We know we just can't get discouraged," Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. "We know they have a great pitcher in Lexi (Betancourt) in the circle she has done a great job for them. Today was just a matter of that timely hit.
"We had some opportunities but just couldn't find that hit when we needed it. We had some solid contact but unfortunately it went right at somebody."
Junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) gave up a leadoff single to open the game but responded by recording three straight outs, including a strikeout, to get out of the inning. The Herd bats did not fare much better in the bottom half of the inning, as Marshall went down in order.
The 49ers recorded another hit in the top of the second inning with a single down the right field line, but a groundout to sophomore Elicia D'Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) stranded the runner at first. In the bottom of the second, Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) drew a leadoff walk, but the Herd was unable to capitalize.
Charlotte got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third, scoring two runs.
Freshman Samantha Loose (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) recorded the first hit of the day for Marshall with a two-out double in the bottom of the third. The Herd could not keep the rally going and trailed 2-0.
Charlotte stranded a runner on first base in the top of the fourth inning, then the Herd tied the game in the bottom. McCord walked for the second time in the game with two outs. Next, senior Raquel Escareno (Wellington, Colo.) belted a two-run home run to center field to tie the game. For Escareno it was her sixth of the season and the 19th of her career. The senior broke her tie with Deanna Tourville (2005-08) and now sits alone at 10th all-time in Marshall history.
"Rocky has been great," Coach Stanton said of her senior. "It's that confidence factor and right now she is squaring up and barreling up a good pitch. She has the right mindset. She is competing hard and we are seeing the result because of it."
The 49ers reached on a pair of infield hits in the top of the fifth but the Marshall defense made the plays and kept the score tied at 2-2. The Herd responded with a pair of hits as well, but stranded a runner on first.
Charlotte pulled ahead for good in the top of the sixth inning scoring two more from a home run to left center field. Dixon recorded the next two outs to end the top half of the inning.
Marshall put two runners on in the bottom of the sixth as Escareno reached on an infield error that moved McCord to second. Once again the Herd could not find the timely hit and entered the seventh trailing by two, 4-2.
The 49ers tacked on another run in the seventh inning on a solo home run to center field to increase the lead to three. Marshall was retired in order in the bottom of the inning.
"Overall I thought it was a well-played ball game by both teams," Coach Stanton said. "Charlotte by far got the timely hits when they needed it and we didn't. I believe in this group and I am excited to come out and play ball tomorrow."
The Herd and 49ers will conclude the series Sunday, Lil Sis Day at Dot Hicks Field, with a doubleheader starting at noon.
