Softball Welcomes Bellarmine to Dot Hicks Field for Three-Game Series

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team is back at Dot Hicks Field for a three-game series with the Bellarmine Knights, with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First pitch for both days' action is scheduled for 12 p.m.

The Thundering Herd comes into the weekend with a 9-3 record. The Knights enter at 4-16.

Game Details
Marshall Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Live Video Stream: HerdVision on CUSAtv with Scott Hall Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Marshall Radio Online: 88.1 WMUL-FM and online www.marshall.edu/wmul
Series History: First-ever meeting

Last Time Out: Herd Gets Back on Track with 3-game Sweep at Chattanooga
On the road, against a program that Marshall has struggled with over the years, the Herd exploded on offense and received some great pitching in a three-game sweep over the Chattanooga Mocs. Coming into the weekend, Chattanooga led the all-time series 22-9, but Marshall took advantage of the Mocs' struggles in the circle. The Herd bats produced 26 runs, 34 hits, 19 extra base hits and drew 27 free passes including 25 walks. Marshall also increased its season home run total to 22. Game two was the first time this season that the Herd did not hit a home run, and still won 9-2. The next home run hit, will be the 150th during the head coach Megan Smith Lyon era that is so far just 101 games old.

In the circle, Marshall saw great performances from senior Megan Stauffer to close game one, sophomore Ashley Blessin for the complete-game win in the second contest, and redshirt sophomore Cailey Joyce who tossed a complete-game on Sunday for her first win in a Herd uniform. It was the type of weekend that Marshall needed to get back on the right track after dropping its three previous games.

During the series, Marshall tied a team record with six doubles in game two that matched the mark set against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 8, 2015. Graduate Sierra Huerta and freshman Kat Sackett hit two doubles each with seniors Katie Adams and Madison Whitaker adding the other two. The last time that Marshall had two players hit two doubles each in the same game was Feb. 28, 2018 at home against Kent State as Taylor McCord and Aly Harrell accomplished the feat. Along with the six doubles, the Herd batters were patient at the plate and totaled 10. It was the first time that the Herd had totaled 10 or more walks in a game since March 6, 2011 against Kent State, when Marshall ran up a team record 13.

Two More Milestones for Mya Stevenson
Junior Mya Stevenson has been heating up a little more as the season has progressed, and with that she joined more exclusive company in MUSB History. In the first game of the series at Chattanooga, Stevenson came through in the clutch for the Herd with a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 8-8. Marshall went on to win 9-8. The home run achieved two separate milestones for the slugger. The homer was the 35th of her career, putting her into a tie with Shaelynn Braxton (2013-15, '17) for second all-time in team history. Also, the 3-run jack moved Stevenson into the 100 RBI Club. She is the 13th member of the group and has 102 after the Chattanooga weekend. She is just behind Alianna Telles (2009-12) and Morgan Zerkle (2014-17) who both have 104, as well as Rebecca Gamby (2009-12) who is 10th with 105. Teammate Aly Harrell is ninth with 112.

Kat Sackett, What a Weekend
Freshman catcher Kat Sackett, who had just had her first career start in game two at Longwood, had a tremendous weekend at the plate in Chattanooga. Sackett bat .500 (6-of-12), slugged 1.083 and drove in seven runs in the three wins. The freshman hit four doubles and the first home run of her career. In fact, Sackett's first four hits of her career were all doubles including her one hit at Longwood. She did not record a single until the third inning of game three at Chattanooga. It still drove in two runs. Sackett still hit her fifth double of the year in the fifth inning before finally sending one over the fence in right-center in the seventh. The Erie, Colo., native has collected an extra base hit in her first four contests.

The Opponent
The Knights are going through the program's first season at the Division I level, and are currently 4-16. Bellarmine ended the 2020 season, its last at Division II and in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, with an 11-9 record and a seven-game winning streak before the remainder of the year was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, the Knights have joined the Atlantic Sun and are currently on a 10-game losing streak. During the recent stretch Bellarmine has been outscored 66-6 and the Knights have been shutout in its last five contests.

Wins this season have come against Western Michigan (4-1, 2-1), IUPUI (7-5) and Dayton (7-4). The Knights have played at No. 22 Tennessee as well as Louisville and Liberty. The three-game series against the Flames at home was the most recent outing for Bellarmine.

As a team, the Knights are batting .180. Sydney Young and Hannah Webb are the only two in the lineup who have played every game in 2021. Young is hitting .293 with 17 hits, four doubles, two homers and 14 RBI. Webb is batting .258 with 16 hits and three doubles. Grace Werner leads with a .333 batting average and 15 runs scored but has missed the last seven games.

Bellarmine has used five pitchers this season, who have a combined 4.63 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 130 innings. Carson Goatley has been the leader with a 2.70 ERA, a 2-6 record and 40 strikeouts in 57 innings. Megan Murphy is second in innings pitched with 40.2 and has a 5.68 ERA. Natalie Mangus has 20.1 innings this season with a 4.13 ERA and 15 strikeouts.

Head coach Renee Hicks is in her 18th season leading the Knights and has 417 wins in her tenure at Bellarmine, and has been to the Division II NCAA Tournament twice in 2012 and 2014.

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---

Softball Welcomes Bellarmine to Dot Hicks Field for Three-Game Series

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Players Mentioned

Katie Adams

Ashley Blessin

Aly Harrell

Sierra Huerta

Cailey Joyce

Kat Sackett

Megan Stauffer

Mya Stevenson

Madison Whitaker

Marshall University Athletics