Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Western Kentucky
15 Wins in a Row for @HerdSB
3/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
Coach Stanton Post Game Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall softball team set the program record for consecutive wins with its 15th after defeating the WKU Hilltoppers, 6-3, on a rainy Sunday at Dot Hicks Field. The Thundering Herd swept its third straight Conference USA opponent and improved to 24-4 and 9-0 in conference play. WKU fell to 18-18 and 3-6 in conference action and have lost its last eight.
On a day that started with some heavy rain in the morning, and then a 45 minute rain delay before the sixth inning, Marshall fought back yet again after first taking the lead and then falling behind 3-2 late.
Senior pitcher Jordan Dixon got the start in the circle for Marshall and won her 17th of the season and ninth straight start. The Edmond, Okla., native went the distance against the Hilltoppers allowing three runs off five hits and struck out five. Dixon now has 93 wins and 979 strikeouts in her career.
The Herd put two runners on in the first and second innings but could not come up with the timely hit. In the third, Marshall finally got on the board scoring two. Senior Morgan Zerkle led off with a solo home run to left-center. It was Zerkle's fourth of the season and the eighth of her career. Junior Taylor McCord stepped up next and drew a walk, one of six in the game for the Herd. Fellow junior Madi Marshall came out to pinch run at first.
With two outs and Marshall still at first, sophomore Abigail Estrada delivered a timely hit with a double to left-center and Marshall scored all the way from first to give the Herd the 2-0 lead. For Madi Marshall, it was her ninth consecutive game with a run scored.
In the top of the fourth, WKU stringed together three hits and used some aggressive base running to take the lead at 3-2. With two outs, two runners on, junior Jordan Colliflower made the catch in right on the run to end the inning.
The rain began to fall in the bottom of the fifth. Zerkle led off with a walk and advanced around to third on an infield error as McCord reached first safely. Two batters later, sophomore Briana Daiss sent a pitch into right field that was deep enough for Zerkle to tag up from third and score. The game was tied at 3-3.
After the third out, the rain came down harder and the tarp came out. Marshall and WKU waited 45 minutes to resume with the top of the sixth.
With the score tied, Dixon and the Marshall defense came out ready to attack the Hilltopper batters. WKU went down in order, in just 10 pitches, in the top of the sixth. Marshall came up to the plate with the bottom of the lineup due up.
With one out, freshman Elizabeth DeShields drew her second walk of the game. Junior Eloise Tribolet placed down a perfect bunt for a base hit that put two on for the Herd and the top of the order coming to the plate. Junior Elicia D'Orazio battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to draw a walk to load the bases. Zerkle then stepped up and continued to deliver for Marshall as the senior roped a pitch into center as all three runners scored. The Herd led 6-3 going into the seventh.
It only took Dixon and the Marshall defense 10 pitches to finish off WKU and earn the Herd's 15th straight win. The win broke the record of 14 consecutive wins set in 2013 from March 13 at Radford, to April 6 in Houston. During that streak, Marshall swept three C-USA series against Southern Miss, UCF and Memphis. In 2017, the Herd has swept UTSA, Charlotte and WKU.
Morgan Zerkle was named the Dot Hicks Significant Sticker Award winner in the series finale after going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs scored, one home run, one double, one walk and one stolen base. Zerkle has been on a tear over the past four games. The Milton, W.Va., native hit .615 with eight hits, seven RBIs and three steals. Zerkle struck out just once in 13 at-bats and slugged .923.
COACH QUOTES
Head Coach Shonda Stanton:
"I think I am most impressed with our mentality through that rain delay and how we came out. Dixon gave us a great start back out there for those two innings after we tied it up in the fifth. So it was nice to see them start strong in the sixth."
"I was so impressed there in the bottom of the sixth with our plate appearances. Liz (DeShields) did a great job with the walk, Weezy (Tribolet) put down a nice bunt and then I really believe that Elicia and Zerkle, as great as they have been this year, those were probably two of the best at-bats they have had all season long which is saying a lot. Elicia stayed so composed, did a great job with the tempo, and was able to battle and battle and draw the walk. And of course, Zerkle did a great job laying off some pitches that were marginal and came up with the clutch hit. She had a monster day."
UP NEXT
Marshall returns to the field on Tuesday, March 28, with a single game against Morehead State at Dot Hicks Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. The Herd heads back on the road and back into Conference USA play next Saturday at Southern Miss April 1-2.
