Marshall University Athletics
Friday, March 8
Fairfax, Va.
1:30 PM
Marshall University
vs
Monmouth
Photo by: Adam Gue
Softball Heads Back on the Road to the Cherry Blossom Classic
3/7/2019 1:57:00 PM | Softball
Marshall to play Monmouth, George Mason and Lafayette, March 8-10
Game Notes
Facebook Live Video Stream
Marshall Radio Online Stream
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The Marshall softball team is back on the road after a four-game homestand. The Thundering Herd will take on Monmouth, George Mason and Lafayette at the Cherry Blossom Classic, hosted by George Mason on March 8-10.
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Marshall enters the weekend with a 14-5 record. Fans can tune in on 88.1 WMUL-FM with the audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul, or the simulcast on Facebook Live as Scott Hall will have the call.
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The Opponents: Series History
Monmouth Hawks (5-5): Two all-time meetings, Marshall leads 2-0, last meeting an 8-0 Herd win on March 12, 2004.
George Mason Patriots (3-7): Two all-time meetings, Series is tied 1-1, last meeting an 8-5 Herd win on Feb. 10, 2012.
Lafayette Leopards (1-5): First ever meeting
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Last Time Out: Home Opener vs. Ohio & 3-game series with Rider - Marshall finished 4-0
It was a great start at home for the Herd at Dot Hicks Field, where Marshall has had a winning record over the last eight years. The Herd began with an 8-0 win over the Ohio Bobcats in front of a large crowd on a warm February afternoon. Marshall kept it going against the Rider Broncs despite temperatures dropping and a nice mix of rain/sleet/snow and freezing rain falling on Sunday for the final game of the series.
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The Herd delivered with power against the Bobcats as sophomore Katie Adams got the scoring started in the first inning with a 2-run double, that was about one foot away from being her first career home run. Marshall scored five runs in the first inning to break the game open. The Herd added a solo home run from sophomore Aly Harrell in the second, another solo shot from junior Blakely Burch in the third and finally a third homer in the fourth from freshman Mya Stevenson. Senior Abigail Tolbert pitched the five-inning, complete-game shutout striking out five.
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The series with the Rider Broncs saw the Marshall offense struggle in the first two games. The Herd took the game one, 2-0, but only generated three hits. Marshall received great pitching from Tolbert, who tied a career-high with eight strikeouts, and solid defensive play. In the second game, Marshall was out-hit 8-4, but the defense stepped up again and junior pitcher Kailee Williamson made some great pitches when it mattered the most as the Herd won 4-0. The Broncs stranded 10 runners on base and it marked three-straight shutouts for the Herd. The Marshall offense scored all of its runs from the long ball again. Harrell, Stevenson and senior Briana Daiss totaled three home runs, the fifth game of the season for Marshall with at least three homers.
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With very adverse conditions for the series finale, Marshall's bats heated up coming through with 10 runs on nine hits, as the Herd won 10-2 in five innings. Burch led the way going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs, three RBI and her second triple of the year. Senior Hannah Giammarino, batting in the leadoff spot, got on base three times with one hit and two walks, stole three bases, scored three times and drove in two runs. Junior Sierra Huerta also delivered with two hits and scored twice. Tolbert was back in the circle and allowed one earned run and just three hits while picking up her ninth win of the year.
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A Great Start in the Circle
Senior Abigail Tolbert and junior Kailee Williamson have been excellent in the circle for the Herd to begin the season. Both pitchers saw an increased role in 2018 after the graduation of 2017 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Jordan Dixon. Tolbert had pitched just one inning through her first two years and Marshall. In 2018, the right-hander led the Herd with 160.2 innings pitched, a 3.49 ERA, 12-11 record, 39 appearances, 30 starts, 10 complete games and 86 strikeouts. Williamson had thrown 37.2 innings during her freshman season in 2017. Her workload increased in 2018 to 104 innings, a 3.77 ERA, 8-9 record, 34 appearances, 19 starts, two complete games and 65 strikeouts. Now in 2019, under pitching coach Maddie Holub, Tolbert and Williamson have turned in great performances. Tolbert already has nine wins and 51 strikeouts in 73 innings. The senior has started 12 games and gone the distance eight times, pitched two shutouts and has a 2.21 ERA. Williamson is 4-0 and is currently 13th in the country with a 0.71 ERA. The junior has 34 strikeouts in 49 innings, four complete games and two shutouts. Senior Ali Burdette has been slowed by an early season injury but earned a win while coming on in relief in the Herd's extra-inning victory over Cal Poly. The staff ERA after the first 19 games of the year sits a 1.57 and opponents are hitting just .204. Marshall's record for the lowest staff ERA at the end of a season came in 2000, with a 1.23 ERA as the Herd won the MAC East Division, and was led by Marshall Hall of Famer Sara Gulla.
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The Herd's string of back-to-back-to-back games of shutouts against Ohio and twice versus Rider, marked the first time since May 5-6, 2012 that Marshall pitched three-straight shutouts. In 2012, the Herd shut down the UCF Knights through the three-game series. Earlier that season, Marshall also blanked the Memphis Tigers during the three-game series, March 17-18.
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Defense Picks Up
After a rough start on the field defensively for the Herd, the Marshall defense has been getting better. The Herd recorded 18 errors in the first five games at the USD Tournament. However, over the last 14 contests Marshall has committed just 10 errors. The even came through with a 29 inning errorless streak, Feb. 17-23, tied for the fourth longest streak in program history since 2000. The program record is 41-consecutive errorless innings from March 21-April 8, 2009. Marshall has not committed more than two errors in a game during the past 14 games, and has only had two errors three times, with just one game being a loss, 3-2 to Towson.
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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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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Â
Facebook Live Video Stream
Marshall Radio Online Stream
Â
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Marshall softball team is back on the road after a four-game homestand. The Thundering Herd will take on Monmouth, George Mason and Lafayette at the Cherry Blossom Classic, hosted by George Mason on March 8-10.
Â
Marshall enters the weekend with a 14-5 record. Fans can tune in on 88.1 WMUL-FM with the audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul, or the simulcast on Facebook Live as Scott Hall will have the call.
Â
The Opponents: Series History
Monmouth Hawks (5-5): Two all-time meetings, Marshall leads 2-0, last meeting an 8-0 Herd win on March 12, 2004.
George Mason Patriots (3-7): Two all-time meetings, Series is tied 1-1, last meeting an 8-5 Herd win on Feb. 10, 2012.
Lafayette Leopards (1-5): First ever meeting
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Last Time Out: Home Opener vs. Ohio & 3-game series with Rider - Marshall finished 4-0
It was a great start at home for the Herd at Dot Hicks Field, where Marshall has had a winning record over the last eight years. The Herd began with an 8-0 win over the Ohio Bobcats in front of a large crowd on a warm February afternoon. Marshall kept it going against the Rider Broncs despite temperatures dropping and a nice mix of rain/sleet/snow and freezing rain falling on Sunday for the final game of the series.
Â
The Herd delivered with power against the Bobcats as sophomore Katie Adams got the scoring started in the first inning with a 2-run double, that was about one foot away from being her first career home run. Marshall scored five runs in the first inning to break the game open. The Herd added a solo home run from sophomore Aly Harrell in the second, another solo shot from junior Blakely Burch in the third and finally a third homer in the fourth from freshman Mya Stevenson. Senior Abigail Tolbert pitched the five-inning, complete-game shutout striking out five.
Â
The series with the Rider Broncs saw the Marshall offense struggle in the first two games. The Herd took the game one, 2-0, but only generated three hits. Marshall received great pitching from Tolbert, who tied a career-high with eight strikeouts, and solid defensive play. In the second game, Marshall was out-hit 8-4, but the defense stepped up again and junior pitcher Kailee Williamson made some great pitches when it mattered the most as the Herd won 4-0. The Broncs stranded 10 runners on base and it marked three-straight shutouts for the Herd. The Marshall offense scored all of its runs from the long ball again. Harrell, Stevenson and senior Briana Daiss totaled three home runs, the fifth game of the season for Marshall with at least three homers.
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With very adverse conditions for the series finale, Marshall's bats heated up coming through with 10 runs on nine hits, as the Herd won 10-2 in five innings. Burch led the way going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs, three RBI and her second triple of the year. Senior Hannah Giammarino, batting in the leadoff spot, got on base three times with one hit and two walks, stole three bases, scored three times and drove in two runs. Junior Sierra Huerta also delivered with two hits and scored twice. Tolbert was back in the circle and allowed one earned run and just three hits while picking up her ninth win of the year.
Â
A Great Start in the Circle
Senior Abigail Tolbert and junior Kailee Williamson have been excellent in the circle for the Herd to begin the season. Both pitchers saw an increased role in 2018 after the graduation of 2017 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Jordan Dixon. Tolbert had pitched just one inning through her first two years and Marshall. In 2018, the right-hander led the Herd with 160.2 innings pitched, a 3.49 ERA, 12-11 record, 39 appearances, 30 starts, 10 complete games and 86 strikeouts. Williamson had thrown 37.2 innings during her freshman season in 2017. Her workload increased in 2018 to 104 innings, a 3.77 ERA, 8-9 record, 34 appearances, 19 starts, two complete games and 65 strikeouts. Now in 2019, under pitching coach Maddie Holub, Tolbert and Williamson have turned in great performances. Tolbert already has nine wins and 51 strikeouts in 73 innings. The senior has started 12 games and gone the distance eight times, pitched two shutouts and has a 2.21 ERA. Williamson is 4-0 and is currently 13th in the country with a 0.71 ERA. The junior has 34 strikeouts in 49 innings, four complete games and two shutouts. Senior Ali Burdette has been slowed by an early season injury but earned a win while coming on in relief in the Herd's extra-inning victory over Cal Poly. The staff ERA after the first 19 games of the year sits a 1.57 and opponents are hitting just .204. Marshall's record for the lowest staff ERA at the end of a season came in 2000, with a 1.23 ERA as the Herd won the MAC East Division, and was led by Marshall Hall of Famer Sara Gulla.
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The Herd's string of back-to-back-to-back games of shutouts against Ohio and twice versus Rider, marked the first time since May 5-6, 2012 that Marshall pitched three-straight shutouts. In 2012, the Herd shut down the UCF Knights through the three-game series. Earlier that season, Marshall also blanked the Memphis Tigers during the three-game series, March 17-18.
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Defense Picks Up
After a rough start on the field defensively for the Herd, the Marshall defense has been getting better. The Herd recorded 18 errors in the first five games at the USD Tournament. However, over the last 14 contests Marshall has committed just 10 errors. The even came through with a 29 inning errorless streak, Feb. 17-23, tied for the fourth longest streak in program history since 2000. The program record is 41-consecutive errorless innings from March 21-April 8, 2009. Marshall has not committed more than two errors in a game during the past 14 games, and has only had two errors three times, with just one game being a loss, 3-2 to Towson.
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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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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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---HerdZone.com---
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
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