Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, March 20
Chattanooga, TN
1:00 PM
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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Photo by: Ray Soldano/Chattanooga Athletics
Softball Hammers Out 25 Hits in Two Wins at Chattanooga
3/20/2021 10:43:00 PM | Softball
Stevenson joins the 100 RBI Club
Box Scores (PDF) Game One | Game Two
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Marshall softball team got back on track with two wins on the road against the Chattanooga Mocs, 9-8 and 9-2. The Herd offense combined for 25 hits and 18 walks.
The Thundering Herd improved to 8-3 and the Mocs fell to 4-13. First pitch of game three is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m., from Frost Stadium. There will not be a live video stream for the game, however fans can tune in to 88.1 WMUL-FM and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul for the radio broadcast with Scott Hall. Click on Stream 1.
Junior slugger Mya Stevenson joined more exclusive company as well. With a home run in game one, it was the 35th of her career putting her into a tie with Shaelynn Braxton for second all-time in program history. In the same hit, Stevenson also became the 14th member of the MUSB 100 RBI Club.
"I was really pleased with how we played today and loved the fight that our team showed throughout the first game," Herd head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. "I really felt like we played as a team and had each other's backs, and we took some punches but came back fighting. I love to see that from them.
"I thought that Mya (Stevenson) had a great day at the plate. Kat Sackett and (Madison) Whitaker were both phenomenal at the plate today, especially in game two. With Kat having just a few games under her belt, I felt like she was confident in the box and came through. But, those two both came through in some clutch situations.
"I felt that Ashley (Blessin) pitched a great game in game two. She came out confident and was attacking the hitters. She was hitting her spots really well and I was really proud of her effort today in the circle."
Game One: Marshall 9, Chattanooga 8
In a crazy, back-and-forth contest that lasted two hours and 38 minutes, Marshall held on for the win in the end to break its three-game losing streak. Senior Megan Stauffer earned the win, her first of the season.
The Herd began the scoring in the top of the first. Graduate Sierra Huerta reached on a walk, then advanced to third on a double from senior Saige Pye. Two batters later Stevenson drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Rachel Rousseau stepped up next and drew a walk to drive home Huerta giving Marshall a 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga responded with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. The Herd returned fire in the top of the second. Senior Armani Brown reached on an infield single then took second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Grace Chelemen. Huerta then sent a 3-2 pitch well over the fence in left to give the lead back to Marshall, 3-2. For Huerta, it was her second homer of the season and the 20th of her Marshall career tying her with Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Amanda Williams (2003-06) for 13th all-time in team history.
The Mocs tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the second. The Herd broke the tie in the top of the fourth with two more runs to take a 2-run lead, 5-3. Freshman Kat Sackett led off with a double to center and then junior Rachel Pennington came in to pinch run at second. Brown moved Pennington to third with a sacrifice bunt, before Chelemen laced a double to left-center to score Pennington. A few batters later, Chelemen crossed the plate on a single to right from senior Katie Adams.
Chattanooga exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. However, Marshall fought back with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. Pye reached first with a single to right, then junior Camryn Michallas came in to run for Pye. Adams followed up with another single to right before Stevenson came to the plate and mashed a pitch over the fence in center. Along with the other milestones, it was Stevenson's third home run of the season and the 19th of the year for the Herd bats.
With the game knotted at 8-8, Stauffer, who had entered the game late in the fifth, shut down the Mocs offense with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth. Marshall then took advantage of the free pass in the top of the seventh. Freshman Paige Halliwill led off with a walk, then three batters later with two away, Chelemen, Huerta and Pye drew back-to-back-to-back walks to drive home Halliwill and give the Herd the 9-8 lead.
Stauffer and the Herd defense took care of business in the bottom of the seventh allowing just one base runner.
Senior Laney Jones had the start in the circle and pitched through four innings allowing three runs and striking out five. Redshirt freshman Madi Garay began the bottom of the fifth and was pulled after allowing five runs and recording two outs. Stauffer pitched the final out of the fifth and the last two innings to earn the win.
Eight players for the Herd recorded a hit with four tallying two hits. Rousseau did not record a hit in game one, but still drew two walks and drove in one run. Of the Herd's 12 hits, four were doubles and two home runs.
Game Two: Marshall 9, Chattanooga 2
The Marshall offense took a couple innings before getting back on a roll, and received a great performance from sophomore pitcher Ashley Blessin as well as some great defensive plays for the game two win.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Rachel Rousseau made a great play with a catch on the run, over the shoulder, in the left-center gap to take away a potential extra base hit. In the second, Grace Chelemen made a grab going down to one knee on a sinking line drive in right.
In the third, the bats got aggressive and it paid off. The first four batters who came to the plate saw one pitch each and all reached base safely with three-straight hits and one hit-by-pitch. Sierra Huerta started the inning with a double, followed by a single from Saige Pye, then a double by Katie Adams that plated Huerta. With two runners on base, Stevenson was plunked on the first pitch to load the bases. Halliwill was the first batter of the inning to see more than one pitch, and drew a walk that brought home Pye.
A pitching change and two batters later, Kat Sackett drilled a pitch to the fence in center for a double that sent Adams and Stevenson home. Marshall led 4-0.
The Herd added to the lead in the top of the fourth with two more runs. Adams and Stevenson reached on back-to-back walks that caused another pitching change for the Mocs. After the change in the circle, Halliwill drew her second walk of the game to load the bases. Then senior Madison Whitaker delivered with a single to center that scored both Adams and Stevenson. Marshall led 6-0.
Blessin recorded her first two strikeouts of the game in the bottom of the fourth that helped to strand two runners on base. In the fifth, Rousseau led off with a single to right and then stole second. Rousseau recorded her second stolen base of the day and has continued her string or being perfect in stolen base attempts. Rousseau is 2-for-2 in 2021, was 9-for-9 in 2020, and successfully stole a base in her last two attempts in 2019. The senior is 13-for-13 going back to her sophomore year. The last time Rousseau was caught stealing was April 19, 2019 against Louisiana Tech.
The Herd did not add to the lead over the next couple of innings. Chattanooga ended the shutout with a run in the bottom of the sixth, however Blessin recorded her third strikeout to end the inning and the rally. Marshall's bats then killed anymore momentum in the top of the seventh.
Sackett led off the inning with her second double of the game and third of the day. To begin her collegiate career, the freshman catcher has four hits this season, all doubles. Fellow freshman Kay Kay Kenney entered to run at second for Sackett, and then scored her first career run two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Chelemen. Huerta got things going again with a two out double, followed by three-straight walks to Pye, Adams, and Stevenson that drove home Huerta. After another pitching change, Halliwill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that plated Pye. Marshall led 9-1.
The Mocs managed one more run in the bottom of the frame before a fly out to Chelemen in right ended the day.
Blessin went the distance for the win, her third of the season and 10th of her career. Blessin scattered out seven hits, allowed two runs, neither earned, and struck out three.
Seven Herd batters recorded a hit with five tallying two or more. Whitaker led the team with three hits and added two RBI. Marshall was also walked 10 times with Adams leading the charge with three. Adams was also 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. Stevenson and Halliwill both tallied three free passes with two walks and a hit-by-pitch each. Huerta, Pye and Stevenson scored two runs each as well. The game two victory was the first time this season that Marshall did not hit at least one home run. It broke a string of 12-straight games that the Herd belted one over the fence going back to the last two games of the 2020 season.
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!
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Marshall softball team got back on track with two wins on the road against the Chattanooga Mocs, 9-8 and 9-2. The Herd offense combined for 25 hits and 18 walks.
The Thundering Herd improved to 8-3 and the Mocs fell to 4-13. First pitch of game three is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m., from Frost Stadium. There will not be a live video stream for the game, however fans can tune in to 88.1 WMUL-FM and online at www.marshall.edu/wmul for the radio broadcast with Scott Hall. Click on Stream 1.
Junior slugger Mya Stevenson joined more exclusive company as well. With a home run in game one, it was the 35th of her career putting her into a tie with Shaelynn Braxton for second all-time in program history. In the same hit, Stevenson also became the 14th member of the MUSB 100 RBI Club.
"I was really pleased with how we played today and loved the fight that our team showed throughout the first game," Herd head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. "I really felt like we played as a team and had each other's backs, and we took some punches but came back fighting. I love to see that from them.
"I thought that Mya (Stevenson) had a great day at the plate. Kat Sackett and (Madison) Whitaker were both phenomenal at the plate today, especially in game two. With Kat having just a few games under her belt, I felt like she was confident in the box and came through. But, those two both came through in some clutch situations.
"I felt that Ashley (Blessin) pitched a great game in game two. She came out confident and was attacking the hitters. She was hitting her spots really well and I was really proud of her effort today in the circle."
Game One: Marshall 9, Chattanooga 8
In a crazy, back-and-forth contest that lasted two hours and 38 minutes, Marshall held on for the win in the end to break its three-game losing streak. Senior Megan Stauffer earned the win, her first of the season.
The Herd began the scoring in the top of the first. Graduate Sierra Huerta reached on a walk, then advanced to third on a double from senior Saige Pye. Two batters later Stevenson drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Rachel Rousseau stepped up next and drew a walk to drive home Huerta giving Marshall a 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga responded with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. The Herd returned fire in the top of the second. Senior Armani Brown reached on an infield single then took second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Grace Chelemen. Huerta then sent a 3-2 pitch well over the fence in left to give the lead back to Marshall, 3-2. For Huerta, it was her second homer of the season and the 20th of her Marshall career tying her with Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Amanda Williams (2003-06) for 13th all-time in team history.
The Mocs tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the second. The Herd broke the tie in the top of the fourth with two more runs to take a 2-run lead, 5-3. Freshman Kat Sackett led off with a double to center and then junior Rachel Pennington came in to pinch run at second. Brown moved Pennington to third with a sacrifice bunt, before Chelemen laced a double to left-center to score Pennington. A few batters later, Chelemen crossed the plate on a single to right from senior Katie Adams.
Chattanooga exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. However, Marshall fought back with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. Pye reached first with a single to right, then junior Camryn Michallas came in to run for Pye. Adams followed up with another single to right before Stevenson came to the plate and mashed a pitch over the fence in center. Along with the other milestones, it was Stevenson's third home run of the season and the 19th of the year for the Herd bats.
With the game knotted at 8-8, Stauffer, who had entered the game late in the fifth, shut down the Mocs offense with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth. Marshall then took advantage of the free pass in the top of the seventh. Freshman Paige Halliwill led off with a walk, then three batters later with two away, Chelemen, Huerta and Pye drew back-to-back-to-back walks to drive home Halliwill and give the Herd the 9-8 lead.
Stauffer and the Herd defense took care of business in the bottom of the seventh allowing just one base runner.
Senior Laney Jones had the start in the circle and pitched through four innings allowing three runs and striking out five. Redshirt freshman Madi Garay began the bottom of the fifth and was pulled after allowing five runs and recording two outs. Stauffer pitched the final out of the fifth and the last two innings to earn the win.
Eight players for the Herd recorded a hit with four tallying two hits. Rousseau did not record a hit in game one, but still drew two walks and drove in one run. Of the Herd's 12 hits, four were doubles and two home runs.
Game Two: Marshall 9, Chattanooga 2
The Marshall offense took a couple innings before getting back on a roll, and received a great performance from sophomore pitcher Ashley Blessin as well as some great defensive plays for the game two win.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Rachel Rousseau made a great play with a catch on the run, over the shoulder, in the left-center gap to take away a potential extra base hit. In the second, Grace Chelemen made a grab going down to one knee on a sinking line drive in right.
In the third, the bats got aggressive and it paid off. The first four batters who came to the plate saw one pitch each and all reached base safely with three-straight hits and one hit-by-pitch. Sierra Huerta started the inning with a double, followed by a single from Saige Pye, then a double by Katie Adams that plated Huerta. With two runners on base, Stevenson was plunked on the first pitch to load the bases. Halliwill was the first batter of the inning to see more than one pitch, and drew a walk that brought home Pye.
A pitching change and two batters later, Kat Sackett drilled a pitch to the fence in center for a double that sent Adams and Stevenson home. Marshall led 4-0.
The Herd added to the lead in the top of the fourth with two more runs. Adams and Stevenson reached on back-to-back walks that caused another pitching change for the Mocs. After the change in the circle, Halliwill drew her second walk of the game to load the bases. Then senior Madison Whitaker delivered with a single to center that scored both Adams and Stevenson. Marshall led 6-0.
Blessin recorded her first two strikeouts of the game in the bottom of the fourth that helped to strand two runners on base. In the fifth, Rousseau led off with a single to right and then stole second. Rousseau recorded her second stolen base of the day and has continued her string or being perfect in stolen base attempts. Rousseau is 2-for-2 in 2021, was 9-for-9 in 2020, and successfully stole a base in her last two attempts in 2019. The senior is 13-for-13 going back to her sophomore year. The last time Rousseau was caught stealing was April 19, 2019 against Louisiana Tech.
The Herd did not add to the lead over the next couple of innings. Chattanooga ended the shutout with a run in the bottom of the sixth, however Blessin recorded her third strikeout to end the inning and the rally. Marshall's bats then killed anymore momentum in the top of the seventh.
Sackett led off the inning with her second double of the game and third of the day. To begin her collegiate career, the freshman catcher has four hits this season, all doubles. Fellow freshman Kay Kay Kenney entered to run at second for Sackett, and then scored her first career run two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Chelemen. Huerta got things going again with a two out double, followed by three-straight walks to Pye, Adams, and Stevenson that drove home Huerta. After another pitching change, Halliwill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that plated Pye. Marshall led 9-1.
The Mocs managed one more run in the bottom of the frame before a fly out to Chelemen in right ended the day.
Blessin went the distance for the win, her third of the season and 10th of her career. Blessin scattered out seven hits, allowed two runs, neither earned, and struck out three.
Seven Herd batters recorded a hit with five tallying two or more. Whitaker led the team with three hits and added two RBI. Marshall was also walked 10 times with Adams leading the charge with three. Adams was also 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. Stevenson and Halliwill both tallied three free passes with two walks and a hit-by-pitch each. Huerta, Pye and Stevenson scored two runs each as well. The game two victory was the first time this season that Marshall did not hit at least one home run. It broke a string of 12-straight games that the Herd belted one over the fence going back to the last two games of the 2020 season.
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: Stauffer, Megan (1-0)
L: Brooke Sudduth (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Halliwill, Paige 1 ; Sackett, Kat 1
HR: Huerta, Sierra 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1
RBI: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 2 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 3 ; ROUSSEAU, Rachel 1
SH: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Brown, Armani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Huerta, Sierra 2 ; Michallas, Camryn 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Halliwill, Paige 1 ; Pennington, Rachel 1 ; Brown, Armani 1
SB: ROUSSEAU, Rachel 1
Batting:
2B: Hayleigh Weissenbach 1 ; Gracey Kruse 1
HR: Hayleigh Weissenbach 1 ; Addy Keylon 1
RBI: Hayleigh Weissenbach 2 ; Kendall Andrews 1 ; Addy Keylon 4 ; Gracey Kruse 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Courtney Ball 2 ; Hayleigh Weissenbach 2 ; Liz Rodebaugh 1 ; Kendall Andrews 2 ; Addy Keylon 1
SB: Courtney Ball 1
HBP: Kailey Snell 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
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OF
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