Softball Heads South for Three-Game Series at Chattanooga

Marshall Game Notes (PDF)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Marshall softball team hits the road again for three-game, non-conference series against the Chattanooga Mocs, March 20-21. First pitch of the Saturday doubleheader and the single game on Sunday are both set for 1 p.m.

The Thundering Herd is 6-3 while the Mocs come in at 4-11.

Series Details
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Live Stream: ESPN+ on Saturday Game One | Game Two
There will be no live video stream on Sunday.
Marshall Radio: 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul with Scott Hall
Series History: 31 all-time meetings, Chattanooga leads 22-9
Last Meeting: Feb. 14, 2020, Chattanooga won 10-8 in Chattanooga

Marshall is looking to end a three-game skid after winning its first six. After dropping the final game of the Thundering Herd Round Robin to Valparaiso, the Herd lost both games of a doubleheader at Longwood on March 10. The games in Chattanooga will be the first for Marshall in 10 days.

Despite the losing streak, the Herd has continued to mash the ball with 17 homers in nine games, an average of 1.89 per game. Marshall has hit at least one home run in every game and two or more in six contests. Eight different players have contributed with a shot over the fence. Senior Aly Harrell leads the team with four.

Freshman Paige Halliwill, who began her career with her first two hits going for homers, is next with three. Halliwill also began her career by notching an extra base hit in 5-straight contests, tied for the second-longest streak in team history. She is also the first player in MUSB history to begin her career with two home runs as her first two hits and the first in team history to begin a career with an extra base hit in her first five games.

The other longball hitters for the Herd so far have been redshirt senior Blakely Burch, seniors Saige Pye and Grace Chelemen and junior Mya Stevenson with two each. Graduate Sierra Huerta and senior Katie Adams have one apiece.

The Herd has gone with a staff in the circle as six different pitchers have spent time on the field, with three pitching more than 10 innings. Senior Laney Jones leads with 17.1 innings pitched, a 2.42 ERA, and has a 2-1 record along with 11 strikeouts. Sophomore Ashley Blessin is next with 14.2 inning, a 2.86 ERA, 2-1 record and 11 strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Madi Garay is third with 13 innings, a 3.77 ERA, 1-1 record and leads with 13 strikeouts.

Freshman Brianna McCown has tossed 7.1 innings with a 1-0 record and eight strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore Cailey Joyce has made two appearances for a total of 5.1 innings and has struck out four. Senior Megan Stauffer has made one appearance.

Following the series in Chattanooga, the Herd has a doubleheader at Akron (March 25) and then a three-game series at home with Bellarmine (March 27-28) before beginning Conference USA play at home, April 2-4 against WKU.

The Opponent
It has been a rough start to the year for Chattanooga at 4-11. The Mocs are looking to get off a 7-game losing streak that started March 6. The offense was shut out in four of those contests. Kailey Snell leads the team batting .350 and has 14 hits with nine RBI. She is the only batter hitting over .300. As a team the Mocs are hitting .232. Chattnooga has combined for 28 extra base hits with the majority being doubles with 21. The offense has hit five home runs, and opponents have hit 17. In the circle, Chattanooga is looking to replace its two main pitchers from a year ago after the graduations of Celie Hudson and Allison Swinford, who combined to throw 125.2 innings of 142.2 total in 2020. Hudson piled up numerous awards during her career including the 2019 SoCon Pitcher of the Year. Swinford was named to the 2020 SoCon Preseason Team and graduated with her degree this past December, a semester early. Hannah Wood (37 IP) and Kat Thompson (27 IP) have spent the most time in the circle this season. Wood leads with a 3.22 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Thompson has a 4.41 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Four others pitchers have all spent time on the field in 2021 for the Mocs. Head Coach Frank Reed is in his 20th year at the helm and has won 652 games at Chattanooga and 1,128 in his career.

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 Heads South for Three-Game Series at Chattanooga

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Players Mentioned

Katie Adams

Ashley Blessin

Blakely Burch

Grace Chelemen

Madi Garay

Paige Halliwill

Aly Harrell

Sierra Huerta

Laney Jones

Cailey Joyce

Brianna McCown

Saige Pye

Megan Stauffer

Mya Stevenson

Marshall University Athletics