Marshall University Athletics
Friday, February 7
Spartanburg, S.C.
5:00 PM
Marshall University
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4
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Saint Francis University
1-0
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2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Saint Francis
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0
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1
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5
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Marshall
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4
6
2
Softball Powers its way to Split on day one at USC Upstate Classic
2/8/2020 12:54:00 AM | Softball
Huerta hits two home runs in game two win
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On a cold and blustery night, the Marshall softball team dropped its first game 5-4 to the Saint Francis Red Flash before bringing the power in the nightcap to defeat Bucknell 9-4, Friday at the USC-Upstate Classic. Senior Sierra Huerta belted two home runs in the win.
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The Thundering Herd begins the 2020 season 1-1.
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Game One: Saint Francis 5, Marshall 4
Marshall led late in the game against the Red Flash, but could not hang on in the end. Saint Francis hit two solo home runs in the top of the seventh to take the one-run lead, and then held on in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
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The Herd got on the board first in the bottom of the second as junior Aly Harrell was hit by a pitch with bases loaded that brought in junior Katie Adams. Marshall led 1-0.
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Saint Francis responded with a run in the top of the third to tie the game. Marshall re-gained the lead in the bottom of the third when Adams drove in sophomore Mya Stevenson on a single to left. Again the Red Flash came back with another run to tie the game in the top of the fourth at 2-2.
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In the bottom of the fifth, Marshall scored two more runs to take a 4-2 lead. Adams drove in two more runs as sophomore Chloe Lee and junior Rachel Rousseau crossed the plate on the shot into right field. Adams had an excellent day at the plate going 3-of-4 and driving in a career-high three runs.
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Senior Kailee Williamson got the start and took the loss. She allowed six hits, five runs with four earned and struck out four. Stevenson was walked three times while Harrell was walked twice and hit by a pitch once.
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Game Two: Marshall 9, Bucknell 4
Marshall brought the power in the nightcap with three home runs. Huerta hit a career-best two and junior Saige Pye hit her first in a Herd uniform.
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The Bison scored first in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The lead lasted into the bottom of the second when Huerta cranked her first homer of the night with a two-run shot to left that scored Rousseau.
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Marshall extended its lead with five more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 7-1 lead. Senior Blakely Burch led off the inning with a single to left. Harrell was walked and then two batters later, Pye sent a shot deep into the night in left-center. The scoring wasn't done as two batters later Rousseau sent a laser down the left field line for a double. Then, Adams came through with a single off the wall in right that scored Rousseau. Bucknell made a pitching change after the fourth run of the inning. However, the Herd was still not done.
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After the change in the circle for the Bison, Huerta got on board with an infield single and then Adams scored off a single into shallow center by junior Armani Brown. Bucknell finally got the inning to come to an end after 10 batters came to the plate.
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Junior Laney Jones received the start and pitched through the fourth inning. Jones had a great start to her Marshall career with six strikeouts and allowed three runs as the Bison added two more runs in the top of the fourth. The Herd led 7-3.
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Junior Megan Stauffer entered the circle for Marshall in the fifth and pitched into the sixth inning. Bucknell added another run in the sixth that led to the Herd making its second pitching change of the game that brought in freshman Ashley Blessin for her first collegiate action. Blessin came in with one out and two runners on base at first and third. The first batter that she faced hit a line drive into left that looked to be an easy single with a run coming in. However, Lee had entered left field as a defensive replacement and made a spectacular diving catch, hopped up and threw the ball to Burch at third to double up the runner who was headed for home plate. Marshall got out of the inning leading 7-4.
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Marshall picked up the scoring again in the bottom of the sixth. Huerta led off the inning with her second homer of the day out to left-center. Brown stepped up next with a single down the left field line. Marshall then loaded the bases after another walk to Harrell, her fourth of the day between the two games, and then Stevenson reached on a single to left. Pye came to the plate next and delivered with a bloop single into shallow centerfield that scored Brown from third. Pye ended the game with four RBI, a career-high.
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In the top of the seventh, the Bison were able to get a couple of runners on board. However, Blessin ended the night with her first two collegiate strikeouts. Jones earned the win, her first in a Marshall uniform.
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The Herd returns to the field on Saturday at 5 p.m., against Towson. The Tigers lost in its only game on Friday, 9-1, to Bucknell.
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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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The Thundering Herd begins the 2020 season 1-1.
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Game One: Saint Francis 5, Marshall 4
Marshall led late in the game against the Red Flash, but could not hang on in the end. Saint Francis hit two solo home runs in the top of the seventh to take the one-run lead, and then held on in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
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The Herd got on the board first in the bottom of the second as junior Aly Harrell was hit by a pitch with bases loaded that brought in junior Katie Adams. Marshall led 1-0.
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Saint Francis responded with a run in the top of the third to tie the game. Marshall re-gained the lead in the bottom of the third when Adams drove in sophomore Mya Stevenson on a single to left. Again the Red Flash came back with another run to tie the game in the top of the fourth at 2-2.
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In the bottom of the fifth, Marshall scored two more runs to take a 4-2 lead. Adams drove in two more runs as sophomore Chloe Lee and junior Rachel Rousseau crossed the plate on the shot into right field. Adams had an excellent day at the plate going 3-of-4 and driving in a career-high three runs.
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Senior Kailee Williamson got the start and took the loss. She allowed six hits, five runs with four earned and struck out four. Stevenson was walked three times while Harrell was walked twice and hit by a pitch once.
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Game Two: Marshall 9, Bucknell 4
Marshall brought the power in the nightcap with three home runs. Huerta hit a career-best two and junior Saige Pye hit her first in a Herd uniform.
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The Bison scored first in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The lead lasted into the bottom of the second when Huerta cranked her first homer of the night with a two-run shot to left that scored Rousseau.
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Marshall extended its lead with five more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 7-1 lead. Senior Blakely Burch led off the inning with a single to left. Harrell was walked and then two batters later, Pye sent a shot deep into the night in left-center. The scoring wasn't done as two batters later Rousseau sent a laser down the left field line for a double. Then, Adams came through with a single off the wall in right that scored Rousseau. Bucknell made a pitching change after the fourth run of the inning. However, the Herd was still not done.
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After the change in the circle for the Bison, Huerta got on board with an infield single and then Adams scored off a single into shallow center by junior Armani Brown. Bucknell finally got the inning to come to an end after 10 batters came to the plate.
Â
Junior Laney Jones received the start and pitched through the fourth inning. Jones had a great start to her Marshall career with six strikeouts and allowed three runs as the Bison added two more runs in the top of the fourth. The Herd led 7-3.
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Junior Megan Stauffer entered the circle for Marshall in the fifth and pitched into the sixth inning. Bucknell added another run in the sixth that led to the Herd making its second pitching change of the game that brought in freshman Ashley Blessin for her first collegiate action. Blessin came in with one out and two runners on base at first and third. The first batter that she faced hit a line drive into left that looked to be an easy single with a run coming in. However, Lee had entered left field as a defensive replacement and made a spectacular diving catch, hopped up and threw the ball to Burch at third to double up the runner who was headed for home plate. Marshall got out of the inning leading 7-4.
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Marshall picked up the scoring again in the bottom of the sixth. Huerta led off the inning with her second homer of the day out to left-center. Brown stepped up next with a single down the left field line. Marshall then loaded the bases after another walk to Harrell, her fourth of the day between the two games, and then Stevenson reached on a single to left. Pye came to the plate next and delivered with a bloop single into shallow centerfield that scored Brown from third. Pye ended the game with four RBI, a career-high.
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In the top of the seventh, the Bison were able to get a couple of runners on board. However, Blessin ended the night with her first two collegiate strikeouts. Jones earned the win, her first in a Marshall uniform.
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The Herd returns to the field on Saturday at 5 p.m., against Towson. The Tigers lost in its only game on Friday, 9-1, to Bucknell.
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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---
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vesco, Grace (1-0)
L: Williamson, Kailee (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Wruble, Ashley 1
HR: Rousseau, Tayven 1 ; Barnes, Madeline 1
RBI: Rousseau, Tayven 1 ; Marsden, Rachel 1 ; Barnes, Madeline 1 ; Wruble, Ashley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Nagle, Avery 1 ; Rousseau, Tayven 1 ; Barnes, Madeline 1 ; Crawford, Brittney 1 ; Frank, Jordan 1
SB: Nagle, Avery 1 ; Saban, Mekenzie 1
HBP: Saban, Mekenzie 1 ; Wruble, Ashley 1
Batting:
2B: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 1
RBI: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Adams, Katie 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Lee, Chloe 1 ; Rousseau, Rachel 1 ; Adams, Katie 1
HBP: Burch, Blakely 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP
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