Softball Opens 2020 Season at USC-Upstate Classic

Marshall Game Notes

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Marshall softball team begins the journey of its 27th season, Feb. 7-9, at the USC-Upstate Classic. First pitch for the Herd is Friday, Feb. 7 at 5 p.m., against the Saint Francis Red Flash.

Tournament Details
Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Saint Francis 5 p.m.       LIVE STREAM | MARSHALL RADIO ONLINE STREAM
Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Bucknell 7 p.m.               LIVE STREAM | MARSHALL RADIO ONLINE STREAM
Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. Towson 5 p.m.           LIVE STREAM | MARSHALL RADIO ONLINE STREAM
Sunday, Feb. 9 at USC-Upstate 3 p.m.      MARSHALL RADIO ONLINE STREAM

All games will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with the audio streamed online by clicking the above link, and through one of the live streams. Marshall's first three games will also be simulcast on Facebook Live through the Marshall Softball Facebook Page (click above links). The Sunday game against USC-Upstate will not be live streamed.

Marshall was picked to finish tied for third in the Conference USA Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior pitcher Kailee Williamson, junior infielder Aly Harrell and sophomore outfielder Mya Stevenson were named Preseason All-Conference. Marshall was tied with preseason favorite North Texas for having the most players selected to the preseason team.

The Herd returns most of its lineup that broke many program records in 2019. The only starters not returning this season are 2019 senior pitcher Abigail Tolbert, catcher Hayden Ellis and centerfielder Hannah Giammarino. The team welcomes eight newcomers this season with three freshmen and five transfers.

Head coach Megan Smith leads the program into her second season at the helm after tying a team record with 42 wins in her first season, and leading Marshall back to the Conference USA Tournament Championship.

The Opponents
Saint Francis
The Red Flash are coming off a season with an overall record of 29-31, however it was a season that included a Northeast Conference Tournament Title and a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the NCAA Regionals. As the No. 3 seed, Saint Francis defeated No. 2 Sacred Heart (7-0), No. 1 LIU-Brooklyn (5-3), then lost to LIU-Brooklyn (6-1) before coming back in the championship to take down LIU-Brooklyn again (8-6). It was the third-straight conference title for the Red Flash. In Regionals, Saint Francis fell to host Michigan (8-0) and then to DePaul (3-1) to see the 2019 season come to a close. The Red Flash are looking to fill in from a great senior class as just two of the top seven hitters return. Junior Mekenzie Saban is back after leading the team hitting .367, scoring 63 runs, 80 hits (13th NCAA), 23 doubles (3rd NCAA), adding three triples and four homers. Saint Francis returns three of its four pitchers from last year. Christina Clark was the top arm in the circle with a 4.81 ERA, 14-11 record, 177.2 innings pitched and 79 strikeouts. The team welcomes seven freshman to the three-time defending NEC Champions. Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell heads into her second season at the helm.

Bucknell
The Bison went 28-24, including 14-3 in Patriot League play, in 2019. Bucknell was the No. 2 seed in the 2019 Patriot League Tournament and were eliminated by Lehigh University. Bucknell fell to Lehigh (7-2) in the first round, defeated Colgate (5-2) to stay alive and then lost to Lehigh (3-2) to see the season come to an end. The Bison return four of its top six hitters including the 2019 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Allyse Volpe. The now sophomore led the team hitting .399 with 57 hits and 16 stolen bases. Volpe added 29 runs and 10 total extra base hits. Junior catcher Taylor Wolfgang led the Bison with 18 doubles (second-most in program history), 41 RBI (third-most team history) and tied for the lead with seven homers. She slugged .580 for the year. In the circle, Bucknell returns its top two pitchers from a year ago in seniors Raeanne Geffert and Lauren Lichtenwalner. Geffert finished with a 2.20 ERA, 16-13 record, 21 complete games, 193.2 innings pitched and 169 strikeouts. Lichtenwalner had a 2.83 ERA, 11-8 record, 128.2 innings and 48 strikeouts. Head Coach Joey Lye enters her third season leading the Bison and has 55 wins in her first two years.

Towson
The Tigers were 27-27 in 2019, ending the season losing twice in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Towson swept Drexel to end the regular season and secure the No. 3 seed in the CAA Tournament. Drexel then defeated the Tigers in the second round to eliminate Towson. Three of the six batters who hit over .300 in 2019 are back. However, Towson looks to fill in the production from the graduation of Nicole Stockinger who led with a .357 average, 46 runs, 51 hits, 29 total extra base hits (including 15 homers) and 45 RBI. The top returning hitter is senior Madison Wilson with a .328 average. Fellow senior Julia Smith-Harrington is also back after hitting .316 with 50 hits and a team-leading 18 doubles. Smith-Harrington was also a threat from the circle. She was third on the squad in innings with 63.2 but led with 2.20 ERA and held opposing batters to a .200 average. Sophomore pitcher Sara Johnson is another dual threat for Towson as she led the team with 155 innings pitched, a 12-10 record and 145 strikeouts. On offense she bat .304 with 14 hits in 46 at bats. Head Coach Lisa Costello enters her 25th season leading the program and is 40th among active coaches with 721 victories.

USC-Upstate
The Spartans continue to be one of the top mid-major programs with a 41-15 record in 2019. Upstate was eliminated on the second day of the Big South Conference tournament. The Spartans do return the 2019 Big South Player of the Year in senior catcher Alyssa Oakes. She led the team with a .402 average, 22 home runs, 73 RBI, 129 total bases and slugged .977. Oakes was also named to the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List. Two more players who bat over .300 are back this year in Madison Lanoux (.345) and Sarah Price (.340). Upstate will also look to replace the graduated 2019 Big South Pitcher of the Year in Christina Biggerstaff who had a 1.13 ERA, 25-4 record, 13 shutouts, 197.2 innings and 249 strikeouts. However, the team's number two from ago is back in senior Erin Hill. The senior had a 2.20 ERA, 14-9 record, 120.2 innings and 92 strikeouts. The 2020 Spartans welcome 10 freshmen and three transfers to the squad. Head Coach Chris Hawkins enters his 26th season leading the Spartans and is 18th among active coaches with 935 wins. He picked up his 900th win on Feb. 16, 2019 with a 4-2 win over UConn.

Up Next
Marshall continues its early season road tournaments at the Chattanooga Challenge, Feb. 14-16.

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!

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Softball Opens 2020 Season at USC-Upstate Classic

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Players Mentioned

Hayden Ellis

Hannah Giammarino

Aly Harrell

Mya Stevenson

Abigail Tolbert

Kailee Williamson

Marshall University Athletics