Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida Atlantic
Herd Softball Splits with Florida Atlantic
3/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Marshall softball team split with the Florida Atlantic Owls Saturday from FAU Softball Stadium. The Thundering Herd took game one, 4-0, and the Owls took game two, 10-3.
Marshall is 14-15-1 overall and 5-2-1 in Conference USA. Florida Atlantic is 18-16 and 6-2 in conference play.
Game One: Marshall 4, Florida Atlantic 0
It was a defensive battle from the start as both teams put runners on base in each of the first three innings, but remained scoreless. The Herd got on the board first with four runs in the top of the fifth.
Senior Elicia D'Orazio hit a one-out single, stole second and then reached third on a single from senior Jordan Colliflower. Colliflower then stole second. D'Orazio scored on an infield error as senior Taylor McCord reached first safely. Freshman Aly Harrell then belted her second home run of the season to the palm trees in right-center to give the Herd the 4-0 lead.
"I was happy for Aly getting the big hit when we needed it," Herd head coach Jen Steele said who also won her 100th career Division I game. "We kept applying pressure but couldn't find a way to scratch a run across. She gave us a huge push when we needed it most."
McCord was a dominant force behind the plate, throwing out three potential base-stealers. The Gilbert, Ariz., native tossed out Emily Lochten in the third and it was the first time all season that Lochten had been thrown out. Lochten was previously 21-of-21 in steals. McCord has thrown out 54 runners in her career, just one away from tying Karri Britt (2000-03) for tops in program history. It was also the first time that a Marshall catcher has thrown out three potential base-stealers in the same game since Allison Webb (2001-04) at Buffalo on May 1, 2004.
"McCord was lights out behind the plate," coach Steele said. "She controlled their run game at a really high level, keeping them out of scoring position and getting us big stops in critical moments."
D'Orazio, Colliflower and McCord all finished with two hits each. McCord also ripped her 13th double of the year and the 39th of her career.
Junior Abigail Tolbert got the win and improved her record to 6-7.
Game Two: Florida Atlantic 10, Marshall 3
The Owls battled back to take the second game of the Saturday doubleheader. FAU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Marshall battled back to tie the game in the fifth at 3-3, but then the Owls took the lead with one run in the bottom of the fifth and then six runs in the sixth.
"We started out really sloppy, giving away outs and runs," coach Steele said. "We clawed our way back and had a moment to bust the game open, but FAU got the stop when they needed it. Momentum is a tough thing to give away. As soon as we gave it back to them, they exploded offensively."
For Marshall, D'Orazio finished the game 3-of-4 at the plate with two runs, two stolen bases and her 10th career triple. D'Orazio is now tied with Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Cristy Waring (1995-98) for second all-time in career triples. The Clermont, Fla., native has 152 career runs scored and also recorded her 150th stolen base. D'Orazio needs just 13 more steals to surpass former teammate Morgan Zerkle (2014-17) for tops all-time in program history.
Colliflower finished the day with four total hits and increased her career-long hitting streak to 12 games. The Huntington, W.Va., native is now hitting .377 for the year with a career-high 26 hits and 11 stolen bases.
"We have a few hours to regroup, refocus and figure out how to go get game three," coach Steele said.
Marshall and Florida Atlantic finish the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.
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