Marshall University Athletics
Wednesday, March 20
Huntington, W.Va.
3:00 PM
Marshall University
19-8
4
vs
9
Kentucky
21-7
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5
6
7
R
H
E
Kentucky
2
0
7
0
0
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9
10
2
Marshall University
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4
5
2
Softball Fights but Falls to No. 13 Kentucky
3/20/2019 8:25:00 PM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – On a beautiful sunny afternoon in front of a packed house at Dot Hicks Field, the Marshall softball team showed a lot of fight after trailing by nine early, but ultimately fell to No. 13 Kentucky, 9-4.
The Thundering Herd falls to 19-8 overall and the Wildcats improve to 21-7.
"Obviously Kentucky is a talented team," Herd head coach Megan Smith said. "I am really proud of the way our team fought. Offensively, I feel like we came out and showed a lot of grit and heart and we didn't back down and we kept fighting. That is something to be proud of when you are facing that caliber of a team.
"Once Abbie (Tolbert) settled down, I think she threw very well. Our defense made plays to back her up and Hayden (Ellis) did a great job behind the plate throwing out two runners. Overall, you never want to lose a game but I have to say that I am proud of our team for fighting through it. It would have been easy for them to give up after the first runs were scored, and they didn't. They stay locked in, motivated and determined.
"That grit and determination is only going to help us in conference play."
Kentucky jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the top half of the third. Through the first two innings, Marshall had three reach base but all from walks. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Aly Harrell smashed her eighth home run of the season on a solo shot to right that landed amongst the cars in the outfield parking lot. The homer continued a Marshall program-record streak going for Harrell of now 10-straight games driving in at least one run, and it was the 19th of her career which is 12th all-time.
The Herd defense stepped up in the fourth and held the Wildcats from scoring. After the leadoff batter reached, senior catcher Hayden Ellis threw out the runner attempting to steal second. Senior pitcher Abigail Tolbert, who came on in relief in the third, struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
The offense kept the fight going in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three more runs, closing the UK lead to five. Junior Blakely Burch led off with a walk and then sophomore Armani Brown reached on a fielder's choice that both runners were safe. An error by the shortstop attempting to get Burch out on the play allowed both runners to take the next base. Senior Briana Daiss came through next with a single down the left field line that scored both Burch and Brown. Daiss moved ahead of Rebecca Gamby for eighth all-time with 107 career RBI.
The inning continued as freshman Rachel Pennington was brought in to run for Daiss at first and promptly stole second. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Pennington scored when junior Sierra Huerta ran out an infield single.
Kentucky threatened again in the top of the fifth. A great play by Burch at third to Ellis at the plate stopped one run from scoring. Ellis then threw out her second runner of the game for the second out. It was the second game this season that Ellis has tossed out two potential base-stealers. The Wildcats then loaded the bases and Huerta made a leaping catch at short to end the inning.
Marshall had opportunities with runners on base in the fifth and the sixth inning but could not find the timely hit. Tolbert and the Marshall defense continued to play well through the final few innings, holding Kentucky off the scoreboard.
Harrell was walked three times in the contest, the sixth-straight game with a walk, and also 27 total walks for the season. The Herd is now halfway through the season and Harrell is on pace to surpass Marshall's single-season record of 51 walks set by Rachel Folden in 2007. It was also the fourth time this season that Harrell was been walked four times in one game, tying the mark set by Folden in 2007 of most games in a season with at least three walks.
Marshall returns to the field Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, as the UTSA Roadrunners make the trip to Dot Hicks Field. The Saturday doubleheader begins at 1 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.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – On a beautiful sunny afternoon in front of a packed house at Dot Hicks Field, the Marshall softball team showed a lot of fight after trailing by nine early, but ultimately fell to No. 13 Kentucky, 9-4.
The Thundering Herd falls to 19-8 overall and the Wildcats improve to 21-7.
"Obviously Kentucky is a talented team," Herd head coach Megan Smith said. "I am really proud of the way our team fought. Offensively, I feel like we came out and showed a lot of grit and heart and we didn't back down and we kept fighting. That is something to be proud of when you are facing that caliber of a team.
"Once Abbie (Tolbert) settled down, I think she threw very well. Our defense made plays to back her up and Hayden (Ellis) did a great job behind the plate throwing out two runners. Overall, you never want to lose a game but I have to say that I am proud of our team for fighting through it. It would have been easy for them to give up after the first runs were scored, and they didn't. They stay locked in, motivated and determined.
"That grit and determination is only going to help us in conference play."
Kentucky jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the top half of the third. Through the first two innings, Marshall had three reach base but all from walks. In the bottom of the third, sophomore Aly Harrell smashed her eighth home run of the season on a solo shot to right that landed amongst the cars in the outfield parking lot. The homer continued a Marshall program-record streak going for Harrell of now 10-straight games driving in at least one run, and it was the 19th of her career which is 12th all-time.
The Herd defense stepped up in the fourth and held the Wildcats from scoring. After the leadoff batter reached, senior catcher Hayden Ellis threw out the runner attempting to steal second. Senior pitcher Abigail Tolbert, who came on in relief in the third, struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
The offense kept the fight going in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three more runs, closing the UK lead to five. Junior Blakely Burch led off with a walk and then sophomore Armani Brown reached on a fielder's choice that both runners were safe. An error by the shortstop attempting to get Burch out on the play allowed both runners to take the next base. Senior Briana Daiss came through next with a single down the left field line that scored both Burch and Brown. Daiss moved ahead of Rebecca Gamby for eighth all-time with 107 career RBI.
The inning continued as freshman Rachel Pennington was brought in to run for Daiss at first and promptly stole second. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Pennington scored when junior Sierra Huerta ran out an infield single.
Kentucky threatened again in the top of the fifth. A great play by Burch at third to Ellis at the plate stopped one run from scoring. Ellis then threw out her second runner of the game for the second out. It was the second game this season that Ellis has tossed out two potential base-stealers. The Wildcats then loaded the bases and Huerta made a leaping catch at short to end the inning.
Marshall had opportunities with runners on base in the fifth and the sixth inning but could not find the timely hit. Tolbert and the Marshall defense continued to play well through the final few innings, holding Kentucky off the scoreboard.
Harrell was walked three times in the contest, the sixth-straight game with a walk, and also 27 total walks for the season. The Herd is now halfway through the season and Harrell is on pace to surpass Marshall's single-season record of 51 walks set by Rachel Folden in 2007. It was also the fourth time this season that Harrell was been walked four times in one game, tying the mark set by Folden in 2007 of most games in a season with at least three walks.
Marshall returns to the field Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, as the UTSA Roadrunners make the trip to Dot Hicks Field. The Saturday doubleheader begins at 1 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.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tatum Spangler (3-0)
L: Williamson, Kailee (6-1)
Batting:
2B: Alex Martens 1 ; Hannah Davis 1
3B: Kayla Kowalik 1
HR: Abbey Cheek 1
RBI: Jenny Schaper 1 ; Kayla Kowalik 1 ; Abbey Cheek 2 ; Alex Martens 1 ; Sarah Rainwater 1 ; Grace Baalman 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenny Schaper 1 ; Kayla Kowalik 1 ; Abbey Cheek 2 ; Jaci Babbs 1 ; Mallory Peyton 1 ; Katie Reed 1 ; Sarah Rainwater 1 ; Bailey Vick 1
SB: Kayla Kowalik 1 ; Abbey Cheek 1 ; Bailey Vick 1
CS: Tekiya Garr-Carter 1 ; Lauren Johnson 1
HBP: Mallory Peyton 2
Batting:
HR: Harrell, Aly 1
RBI: Huerta, Sierra 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Daiss, Briana 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Burch, Blakely 1 ; Brown, Armani 1 ; Pennington, Rachel 1
SB: Pennington, Rachel 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
lf/rf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
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