Marshall University Athletics
Friday, April 19
Huntington, W.Va.
1:00 PM
Marshall University
26-16, 9-7
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LA Tech
36-10, 14-2
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Marshall University
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Photo by: Adam Gue
Ellis Powers Three Home Run Day as Softball Splits with Louisiana Tech
4/19/2019 8:12:00 PM | Softball
Senior hit two homers in game one and added a third in game two
Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team used the long ball throughout the day to get a split with the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, on Friday. Senior Hayden Ellis belted three home runs during the doubleheader. Marshall lost game one, 10-8, and took game two 10-2 in the fifth on Cancer Awareness Day.
The Thundering Herd is now 27-16 overall and 10-7 in Conference USA. The Lady Techsters move to 36-11 and 14-3 in conference.
"I thought we showed a lot of fight and a lot of grit coming back out in the second game after a tough first game," Herd head coach Megan Smith said. "Our offense today was superb facing one of the best pitching staffs in the conference and putting up as many runs as we did. I think that shows how well prepared Coach Lyon had our hitters and that was the highlight of the day.
"I also think Ali Burdette was big for us today. She didn't throw a lot of innings but I think seeing her coming out and doing what she did was great for our pitching staff and I was really proud of her today."
Game One: Louisiana Tech 10, Marshall 8
The game began as a pitching and defensive battle through first few innings before an offensive explosion closed it out. Marshall held a 5-3 lead going into the seventh before LA Tech put up seven on the scoreboard and then held on in the bottom of the inning for the win.
Ellis began her big day with a solo homer in the fourth to get Marshall on the board and trailing 3-1.
The Herd then kept up the fight with four runs in the fifth to take the 5-3 lead. Sophomore Rachel Rousseau led off the inning with a double and was followed by sophomore Armani Brown with a base hit. Sophomore Aly Harrell then hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Rousseau. Freshman Mya Stevenson kept the inning going with a walk and then junior Blakely Burch ripped her sixth triple of the year scoring both Harrell and Stevenson. Burch is now tied with Morgan Zerkle (2014-17) for the most triples in a season in program history. Junior Sierra Huerta capped off the inning with a double, scoring Burch.
Eleven batters came to the plate in the top of the seventh for LA Tech in jumping out to a 10-5 lead. However, the Herd kept battling against the top team in Conference USA.
Harrell led off the inning with her third hit of the game and then Stevenson was hit by a pitch. Stevenson reached base safely all four trips to the plate with three walks and the plunk. Two batters later, and with two outs, Ellis smashed her second homer of the game to center to cut the deficit to two. It was the first multi-home run game in her career. Marshall could not muster anymore offense as the Lady Techsters held on for the 2-run win.
Marshall had 11 hits in the contest as Harrell went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Ellis drove in four runs with her two homers. Huerta and Rousseau also recorded two hits each. On defense Huerta recorded six assists and three putouts as well.
Senior Abigail Tolbert got the start in the circle and pitched the first 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. Junior Kailee Williamson came on in the seventh and recorded one out while facing five batters and then senior Ali Burdette entered the game and recorded the last out on her first batter faced.
Game Two: Marshall 10, Louisiana Tech 2 (5 innings)
Marshall bounced back in a big way to take the second game of the doubleheader. The Herd recorded 11 hits again with three home runs in the victory.
Marshall got on the board first in the first inning after Stevenson hit a single to right that was misplayed by the rightfielder and led to a two base error. Harrell scored on the play from first.
Ellis continued her magnificent day in the second in her first plate appearance with a two-run homer to left.
"(Ellis) has been doing great things for us all season but today was a special day for her," coach Smith said of her senior. "She was playing for her dad. Her dad's name was on the back of her shirt during warmups with his fight and his battle with cancer. I think that when you play for something bigger than yourself, it is pretty special what you can do and I think all of that was for her dad today so that was pretty great."
The Herd still kept the second inning rolling along as senior Hannah Giammarino hit a single to right and then Rousseau lifted her fourth home run of the year out to left for another two-run jack in the inning. Marshall now led 5-0.
The Herd kept its foot on the gas with another run in the third as Burch led off with double, later advanced to third and then scored on a ground out from Ellis. For Ellis it was her third RBI of the game and seventh combined between the two contests.
LA Tech got on the board with two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the Herd lead down to four. However, the Herd was not done.
In the fifth, Huerta reached second with a double and one out. Ellis was walked and then sophomore Katie Adams came in to pinch hit and drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Giammarino then ended the game with a grand slam to right-center on the very first pitch of her at-bat. It was Giammarino's fifth home run of the season and her first since March 16 at Charlotte.
Williamson got the start in the circle and went 3.2 innings before Burdette came in and closed things out. Burdette pitched 1.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.
Game three is set for Saturday at 12 p.m. The series finale is also scheduled to be Emileigh Cooper Day as the 2019 Warrior Award, named in Cooper's honor, will be handed out.
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!
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team used the long ball throughout the day to get a split with the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, on Friday. Senior Hayden Ellis belted three home runs during the doubleheader. Marshall lost game one, 10-8, and took game two 10-2 in the fifth on Cancer Awareness Day.
The Thundering Herd is now 27-16 overall and 10-7 in Conference USA. The Lady Techsters move to 36-11 and 14-3 in conference.
"I thought we showed a lot of fight and a lot of grit coming back out in the second game after a tough first game," Herd head coach Megan Smith said. "Our offense today was superb facing one of the best pitching staffs in the conference and putting up as many runs as we did. I think that shows how well prepared Coach Lyon had our hitters and that was the highlight of the day.
"I also think Ali Burdette was big for us today. She didn't throw a lot of innings but I think seeing her coming out and doing what she did was great for our pitching staff and I was really proud of her today."
Game One: Louisiana Tech 10, Marshall 8
The game began as a pitching and defensive battle through first few innings before an offensive explosion closed it out. Marshall held a 5-3 lead going into the seventh before LA Tech put up seven on the scoreboard and then held on in the bottom of the inning for the win.
Ellis began her big day with a solo homer in the fourth to get Marshall on the board and trailing 3-1.
The Herd then kept up the fight with four runs in the fifth to take the 5-3 lead. Sophomore Rachel Rousseau led off the inning with a double and was followed by sophomore Armani Brown with a base hit. Sophomore Aly Harrell then hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Rousseau. Freshman Mya Stevenson kept the inning going with a walk and then junior Blakely Burch ripped her sixth triple of the year scoring both Harrell and Stevenson. Burch is now tied with Morgan Zerkle (2014-17) for the most triples in a season in program history. Junior Sierra Huerta capped off the inning with a double, scoring Burch.
Eleven batters came to the plate in the top of the seventh for LA Tech in jumping out to a 10-5 lead. However, the Herd kept battling against the top team in Conference USA.
Harrell led off the inning with her third hit of the game and then Stevenson was hit by a pitch. Stevenson reached base safely all four trips to the plate with three walks and the plunk. Two batters later, and with two outs, Ellis smashed her second homer of the game to center to cut the deficit to two. It was the first multi-home run game in her career. Marshall could not muster anymore offense as the Lady Techsters held on for the 2-run win.
Marshall had 11 hits in the contest as Harrell went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Ellis drove in four runs with her two homers. Huerta and Rousseau also recorded two hits each. On defense Huerta recorded six assists and three putouts as well.
Senior Abigail Tolbert got the start in the circle and pitched the first 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. Junior Kailee Williamson came on in the seventh and recorded one out while facing five batters and then senior Ali Burdette entered the game and recorded the last out on her first batter faced.
Game Two: Marshall 10, Louisiana Tech 2 (5 innings)
Marshall bounced back in a big way to take the second game of the doubleheader. The Herd recorded 11 hits again with three home runs in the victory.
Marshall got on the board first in the first inning after Stevenson hit a single to right that was misplayed by the rightfielder and led to a two base error. Harrell scored on the play from first.
Ellis continued her magnificent day in the second in her first plate appearance with a two-run homer to left.
"(Ellis) has been doing great things for us all season but today was a special day for her," coach Smith said of her senior. "She was playing for her dad. Her dad's name was on the back of her shirt during warmups with his fight and his battle with cancer. I think that when you play for something bigger than yourself, it is pretty special what you can do and I think all of that was for her dad today so that was pretty great."
The Herd still kept the second inning rolling along as senior Hannah Giammarino hit a single to right and then Rousseau lifted her fourth home run of the year out to left for another two-run jack in the inning. Marshall now led 5-0.
The Herd kept its foot on the gas with another run in the third as Burch led off with double, later advanced to third and then scored on a ground out from Ellis. For Ellis it was her third RBI of the game and seventh combined between the two contests.
LA Tech got on the board with two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the Herd lead down to four. However, the Herd was not done.
In the fifth, Huerta reached second with a double and one out. Ellis was walked and then sophomore Katie Adams came in to pinch hit and drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Giammarino then ended the game with a grand slam to right-center on the very first pitch of her at-bat. It was Giammarino's fifth home run of the season and her first since March 16 at Charlotte.
Williamson got the start in the circle and went 3.2 innings before Burdette came in and closed things out. Burdette pitched 1.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.
Game three is set for Saturday at 12 p.m. The series finale is also scheduled to be Emileigh Cooper Day as the 2019 Warrior Award, named in Cooper's honor, will be handed out.
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: CHAPMAN, Jenny (3-0)
L: Tolbert, Abigail (17-12)
Batting:
2B: TURKOLY, Morgan 1 ; CROWDER, Jazlyn 1
3B: TURKOLY, Morgan 1
HR: ATIENZA, Kimmie 1
RBI: ATIENZA, Kimmie 1 ; TURKOLY, Morgan 2 ; CROWDER, Jazlyn 1 ; RIZZATO, Marilyn 2 ; TERRAL, Mary 2
Base Running:
RUNS: ATIENZA, Kimmie 2 ; TURKOLY, Morgan 1 ; CROWDER, Jazlyn 1 ; ANDERSON, Kailey 1 ; EDWARDS, Lindsay 1 ; SIMON, Bayli 2 ; RIZZATO, Marilyn 1 ; WILLIAMS, AJ 1
SB: CROWDER, Jazlyn 1 ; ANDERSON, Kailey 1 ; SIMON, Bayli 1 ; RIZZATO, Marilyn 1 ; TERRAL, Mary 1
Batting:
2B: Rousseau, Rachel 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 1
3B: Burch, Blakely 1
HR: Ellis, Hayden 2
RBI: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Burch, Blakely 2 ; Huerta, Sierra 1 ; Ellis, Hayden 4
SF: Harrell, Aly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rousseau, Rachel 1 ; Brown, Armani 1 ; Pennington, Rachel 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 2 ; Burch, Blakely 1 ; Ellis, Hayden 2
CS: Rousseau, Rachel 1
HBP: Stevenson, Mya 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
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H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
INF
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INF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballMarshall Softball Class of 2025 Graduates
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Marshall Softball: Kaleea Washington & Brooklyn Ulrich (Post-Radford)
Tuesday, April 22
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle, Haleigh Adkins, Paige Maynard (Post-Coastal)
Friday, April 18
Hype and Harmony: the Team Personality Fuels Success #softball
Thursday, April 17