Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Towson
Dixon Dominates in two @HerdSB Wins
2/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior pitcher Jordan Dixon struck out 20 batters in just over 10 innings of play as the Marshall softball team recorded two more wins at the Carolina Classic. The Thundering Herd improved to 9-3 after holding on to defeat Hampton, 7-6, and Towson 3-0.
Game One: Marshall 7, Hampton 6
Marshall started the scoring in the top of the second inning as senior Shaelynn Braxton crossed home plate on an infield error. The Pirates came right back in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run by Morgan Crawford.
The Herd answered with three runs in the third. With Elicia D'Orazio at third and Morgan Zerkle at second, Marshall attempted a squeeze bunt with Taylor McCord. McCord put down the bunt into a perfect spot that D'Orazio scored and McCord reached safely with a bunt-single. Two batters later, Briana Daiss lined a pitch into center field that brought in both Zerkle and McCord. Marshall regained the lead, 4-2.
The Herd added two more runs in the fourth to take a four-run lead at 6-2 after Braxton drove in both Zerkle and McCord with a double to left-center.
Freshman Kailee Williamson started the game in the circle, went the first two innings allowing two runs off three hits, and struck out two batters. Ali Burdette entered the game to start the third and lasted one and one-third innings. Hampton fired back with Burdette in the circle scoring two runs and loading the bases in the fourth. Marshall made its second pitching change as Dixon came in with one out and bases loaded.
Dixon allowed a hit to the first batter she faced that drove in two runs and tied the game at 6-6. From there, the senior ace took control as she struck out the next nine batters she faced and retired the final 11. The final out of the game was her 10th strikeout in just three and two-thirds innings pitched.
The Herd took back the lead for the final time in the sixth as McCord drove in D'Orazio with a one-out double to left-center.
Jordan Dixon was named the Dot Hicks Significant Sticker award winner with her sixth win of the season. Dixon recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 23rd time in her career. She allowed just the one hit and no runs scored and zero walks. Dixon was not done for the day.
Game Two: Marshall 3, Towson 0
The Herd came right back out on the field and grabbed its third win of the weekend with a 3-0 win over the Towson Tigers.
Jordan Dixon started in the circle and dominated once again with 10 more strikeouts to give her 20 for the day and her 24th career double-digit strikeout performance. Dixon allowed just two hits during the complete game, shutout win. The Edmond, Okla., native now has 83 career wins and 895 strikeouts.
Marshall scored two runs in the second to take the early lead, 2-0. Abigail Estrada lined a pitch into left-center. Estrada came home two batters later as Ali Burdette drove a pitch to the right-center field wall for her first double of the season. Burdette crossed the plate taking advantage of a throwing error by the pitcher with Eloise Tribolet headed to first base.
The Herd scored its final run in the third inning when Jordan Colliflower sent a pitch up the middle that scored Shaelynn Braxton from third.
From there, Dixon and the Marshall defense maintained control for the shutout win. Towson's best opportunity to score was in the bottom of the third with bases loaded and two outs. Dixon ended the inning with her fourth of 10 strikeouts.
Jordan Colliflower was named the Dot Hicks Significant Sticker award winner for her performance against the Tigers. The junior was 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and four putouts in right field. Two of Colliflower's catches in right field came with runners on base and not able to advance. Her final catch was the second out in the bottom of the seventh.
COACH QUOTES
Head Coach Shonda Stanton:
"We were not sharp today but we feel good about battling through the lack of production and getting the timely hits for enough to get two wins. It was great to see Braxton come up big in some clutch situations to drive in some runs. Dixon was fun to watch today. She really competed and stepped up for us. We had to enter her in the tight ball game against Hampton and she put it away by striking out 10 of the 12 batters she faced. That was impressive and then to turn around and pitch the shutout in game two was huge."
UP NEXT
Marshall will finish its trip to the Carolina Classic with a 1 p.m. game against the host school UNC on Sunday, Feb. 26. The game will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul. The game will also be on ESPN 3 through the ACC Network.
