Marshall University Athletics
Sunday, February 9
Spartanburg, SC
3:00 PM
Marshall University
2-1
5
at
3
University of South Carolina - Upstate
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Marshall
0
0
2
0
1
0
2
5
10
1
USC Upstate
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
3
6
1
Softball Slugs Another Road Victory
2/9/2020 10:17:00 PM | Softball
Stevenson, Huerta and Burch all homer
Box Score (PDF)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Marshall softball team used the long ball again with three home runs in the 5-3 win, Sunday night over the USC Upstate Spartans. Sophomore Mya Stevenson, and seniors Sierra Huerta and Blakely Burch all homered.
The Thundering Herd improved to 2-1. The Spartans dropped to 2-1.
"I was really excited to see the fight that our team showed today," Herd head coach Megan Smith said after the win. "I felt that both KK (Kailee Williamson) and Laney (Jones) did a good job, especially Laney coming in and being really strong and finishing the game. I thought that she was poised and very confident against a really good team."
"I felt our offense showed what it can do. We have power and it showed. I felt multiple people stepped up. Chloe (Lee) came through and had some really good at-bats. I'm just really pleased with this win. To be able to beat them at their home field, that's big for us. It's a good team and a great test for us early and we definitely did a good job competing today."
Marshall began the game getting the bases loaded in the first inning after junior Aly Harrell, Stevenson and junior Saige Pye were all hit by a pitch, respectively. However, Erin Hill the starting pitcher for the Spartans came back with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
The Herd picked up the first hit of the game in the top of the second as junior Rachel Rousseau out ran an infield single. However, Marshall could not take advantage of the leadoff hit and the game remained scoreless.
In the top of the third, the long ball returned. Harrell was plunked for the second time to leadoff the inning. Stevenson then stepped to the plate and crushed a towering shot to right-center for her first home run of the season and 21st of her career. Marshall led 2-0.
Senior Kailee Williamson received the start in the circle for the Herd and held the Spartans without a hit until the bottom of the fourth. USC-Upstate started to make some adjustments and scored two runs in the fourth to tie the game. Junior Laney Jones came on in relief and helped get Marshall out of the jam, ending the inning with a strikeout, and stranding three runners on base.
Senior Sierra Huerta responded in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to straight-away center. It was her third homer of the weekend. Marshall later loaded the bases again in the inning, however the Spartans ended the inning and kept the Herd lead at one, 3-2.
Marshall continued to keep the pressure on the Spartan defense but just could capitalize until the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Chloe Lee led off the inning reaching base on an infield error. Next, junior Armani Brown dropped a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move Lee to second. Burch then came to the plate and made the adjustment after previously going 0-for-4. With a 2-2 count, and on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Burch launched a shot to right-center for her first home run of the season giving the Herd a three-run lead, 5-2.
"You know Blakey transferred from (Upstate) and I think that she had some nerves and was pressing a little bit," coach Smith said of her senior. "Her at-bats were not great up until that last one. It was really good to see her just relax and settle in and allow herself to play. I think she was putting too much pressure on herself, so you can tell that at-bat that she was more relaxed and that was a special one to see go out of the park. Not just for the insurance runs that it gave us but because I know it means a lot to her."
USC-Upstate scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and had two runners on base. However, the Herd defense made the plays in the clutch moments and came away with the win.
Jones earned the win and improved to 2-0 for the season. Jones spread out five hits in 3.2 innings and struck out three.
As a team, Marshall tallied 10 hits and nine free passes with five walks and four hit-by-pitches. Harrell was 2-of-3 at the plate with two hit-by-pitches and scored once. Pye recorded two hits including a double and reached base safely three times. Rousseau ended the weekend with a great game at the plate and in the field going 3-of-4 with three putouts in center.
Marshall heads back out on the road as the journey for Team 27 continues at the Chattanooga Challenge, Feb. 14-16. The Herd will hit the field first against Lipscomb on Friday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.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!
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Marshall softball team used the long ball again with three home runs in the 5-3 win, Sunday night over the USC Upstate Spartans. Sophomore Mya Stevenson, and seniors Sierra Huerta and Blakely Burch all homered.
The Thundering Herd improved to 2-1. The Spartans dropped to 2-1.
"I was really excited to see the fight that our team showed today," Herd head coach Megan Smith said after the win. "I felt that both KK (Kailee Williamson) and Laney (Jones) did a good job, especially Laney coming in and being really strong and finishing the game. I thought that she was poised and very confident against a really good team."
"I felt our offense showed what it can do. We have power and it showed. I felt multiple people stepped up. Chloe (Lee) came through and had some really good at-bats. I'm just really pleased with this win. To be able to beat them at their home field, that's big for us. It's a good team and a great test for us early and we definitely did a good job competing today."
Marshall began the game getting the bases loaded in the first inning after junior Aly Harrell, Stevenson and junior Saige Pye were all hit by a pitch, respectively. However, Erin Hill the starting pitcher for the Spartans came back with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
The Herd picked up the first hit of the game in the top of the second as junior Rachel Rousseau out ran an infield single. However, Marshall could not take advantage of the leadoff hit and the game remained scoreless.
In the top of the third, the long ball returned. Harrell was plunked for the second time to leadoff the inning. Stevenson then stepped to the plate and crushed a towering shot to right-center for her first home run of the season and 21st of her career. Marshall led 2-0.
Senior Kailee Williamson received the start in the circle for the Herd and held the Spartans without a hit until the bottom of the fourth. USC-Upstate started to make some adjustments and scored two runs in the fourth to tie the game. Junior Laney Jones came on in relief and helped get Marshall out of the jam, ending the inning with a strikeout, and stranding three runners on base.
Senior Sierra Huerta responded in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to straight-away center. It was her third homer of the weekend. Marshall later loaded the bases again in the inning, however the Spartans ended the inning and kept the Herd lead at one, 3-2.
Marshall continued to keep the pressure on the Spartan defense but just could capitalize until the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Chloe Lee led off the inning reaching base on an infield error. Next, junior Armani Brown dropped a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move Lee to second. Burch then came to the plate and made the adjustment after previously going 0-for-4. With a 2-2 count, and on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Burch launched a shot to right-center for her first home run of the season giving the Herd a three-run lead, 5-2.
"You know Blakey transferred from (Upstate) and I think that she had some nerves and was pressing a little bit," coach Smith said of her senior. "Her at-bats were not great up until that last one. It was really good to see her just relax and settle in and allow herself to play. I think she was putting too much pressure on herself, so you can tell that at-bat that she was more relaxed and that was a special one to see go out of the park. Not just for the insurance runs that it gave us but because I know it means a lot to her."
USC-Upstate scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and had two runners on base. However, the Herd defense made the plays in the clutch moments and came away with the win.
Jones earned the win and improved to 2-0 for the season. Jones spread out five hits in 3.2 innings and struck out three.
As a team, Marshall tallied 10 hits and nine free passes with five walks and four hit-by-pitches. Harrell was 2-of-3 at the plate with two hit-by-pitches and scored once. Pye recorded two hits including a double and reached base safely three times. Rousseau ended the weekend with a great game at the plate and in the field going 3-of-4 with three putouts in center.
Marshall heads back out on the road as the journey for Team 27 continues at the Chattanooga Challenge, Feb. 14-16. The Herd will hit the field first against Lipscomb on Friday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.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: Jones, Laney (1-0)
L: SULLIVAN, Celina (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Pye, Saige 1 ; Rousseau, Rachel 1
HR: Burch, Blakely 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 1
RBI: Burch, Blakely 2 ; Stevenson, Mya 2 ; Huerta, Sierra 1
SH: Brown, Armani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burch, Blakely 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 1 ; Lee, Chloe 1
CS: Pennington, Rachel 1
HBP: Harrell, Aly 2 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Pye, Saige 1
Batting:
RBI: BERTOT, Bella 1 ; BARNES, Max 1 ; GRIGSBY, Savannah 1
SH: OAKES, Alyssa 1
SF: BERTOT, Bella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SOTERAKIS, Marisa 1 ; DOMINGUE, Tiffany 1 ; DORGAN, Alicia 1
SB: PRICE, Sarah 1 ; SOTERAKIS, Marisa 1
CS: DOMINGUE, Tiffany 1
HBP: SOTERAKIS, Marisa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP
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