Marshall University Athletics
Sunday, March 7
Huntington, W.Va.
11:30 AM
Marshall University
6-0
2
vs
1
Saint Francis University
9-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Saint Francis
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
4
1
Marshall
2
0
0
0
0
0
X
2
3
2
Photo by: Adam Gue
Softball Splits in Final Day of Thundering Herd Round Robin
3/7/2021 9:48:00 PM | Softball
Marshall travels to Longwood on Wednesday, March 10 for a doubleheader
Box Scores (PDF): Saint Francis | Valparaiso
Postgame Press Conference Video: Head Coach Megan Smith Lyon
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team split the third and final day of the Thundering Herd Round Robin on Sunday at Dot Hicks Field. Marshall defeated Saint Francis, 2-1, in the first game before falling to Valparaiso, 5-4, in the second contest.
Marshall is now 6-1 this season. Saint Francis fell to 9-4 and Valparaiso improved to 4-6.
"Obviously not the end to the day that we wanted," Herd head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. "Overall I am pleased with our effort in the first game. To face (Saint Francis) twice and be able to come out with wins both times, they are a tough team with tough pitchers, so I was happy with that.
"In that last game (Valparaiso), just didn't get it going offensively like I felt that we could have. Our relief effort wasn't strong enough. Credit to Valpo, their pitcher did a great job handling our hitters and I thought they had a strong game."
Game One: Marshall 2, Saint Francis 1
The scoring output once again came from the long ball for the Herd as senior Saige Pye hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. Pye's 2-run shot out to centerfield gave Marshall the early lead and held up through the rest of the contest, thanks to the Herd's pitching and defense.
The Red Flash scored its only run in the top of the fourth.
Sophomore Ashley Blessin got the start in the circle and threw the first four innings. She allowed four hits, one run and struck out three to earn the win. Redshirt freshman Madi Garay, entered the game in the fifth inning and recorded her first career save with three shutout innings. Garay did not allow a single base runner to reach through the final three innings and also struck out three.
Senior Blakely Burch produced some stellar plays at third including a diving catch by the backside of the pitching circle in the fourth.
The Herd managed just three hits on offense. Along with Pye's home run, the other two hits came from graduate Sierra Huerta and senior Grace Chelemen.
Game Two: Valparaiso 5, Marshall 4
The Herd jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through three innings, however Valpo rallied to score five over the next four innings to take the win.
Marshall again started the day with a home run as senior Aly Harrell drilled a 2-run shot to right that scored Chelemen, who led off the game with a single on a bunt.
The Herd added a run from yet another home run, the team's 14th of the season, when Burch fired one out to left-center. It was Burch's second of the year.
Marshall's final run came in the third inning when senior Katie Adams drove home junior Mya Stevenson with a base hit to right-center. The Herd had an opportunity in the bottom of the seventh to at least tie the game. Senior Rachel Rousseau came to the plate with two outs and drew a walk, however Marshall could not find that timely hit.
The Herd finished the game with nine hits and was led by senior Armani Brown who finished 3-for-3. Chelemen recorded two hits.
Redshirt sophomore Cailey Joyce earned the start in the circle and had her first outing in a Thundering Herd uniform. Joyce pitched four innings allowing four hits and one run, while striking out three. Senior Laney Jones pitched the fifth inning and allowed two runs. Garay then pitched the sixth and allowed two more runs and picked up the loss. Blessin pitched the final two outs of the top of the seventh and recorded one strikeout.
Marshall returns to action on Wednesday, March 10, as the Herd travels to Farmville, Va., for a doubleheader at Longwood. First pitch in the twinbill with the Lancers is set for 3 p.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!
Postgame Press Conference Video: Head Coach Megan Smith Lyon
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team split the third and final day of the Thundering Herd Round Robin on Sunday at Dot Hicks Field. Marshall defeated Saint Francis, 2-1, in the first game before falling to Valparaiso, 5-4, in the second contest.
Marshall is now 6-1 this season. Saint Francis fell to 9-4 and Valparaiso improved to 4-6.
"Obviously not the end to the day that we wanted," Herd head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. "Overall I am pleased with our effort in the first game. To face (Saint Francis) twice and be able to come out with wins both times, they are a tough team with tough pitchers, so I was happy with that.
"In that last game (Valparaiso), just didn't get it going offensively like I felt that we could have. Our relief effort wasn't strong enough. Credit to Valpo, their pitcher did a great job handling our hitters and I thought they had a strong game."
Game One: Marshall 2, Saint Francis 1
The scoring output once again came from the long ball for the Herd as senior Saige Pye hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. Pye's 2-run shot out to centerfield gave Marshall the early lead and held up through the rest of the contest, thanks to the Herd's pitching and defense.
The Red Flash scored its only run in the top of the fourth.
Sophomore Ashley Blessin got the start in the circle and threw the first four innings. She allowed four hits, one run and struck out three to earn the win. Redshirt freshman Madi Garay, entered the game in the fifth inning and recorded her first career save with three shutout innings. Garay did not allow a single base runner to reach through the final three innings and also struck out three.
Senior Blakely Burch produced some stellar plays at third including a diving catch by the backside of the pitching circle in the fourth.
The Herd managed just three hits on offense. Along with Pye's home run, the other two hits came from graduate Sierra Huerta and senior Grace Chelemen.
Game Two: Valparaiso 5, Marshall 4
The Herd jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through three innings, however Valpo rallied to score five over the next four innings to take the win.
Marshall again started the day with a home run as senior Aly Harrell drilled a 2-run shot to right that scored Chelemen, who led off the game with a single on a bunt.
The Herd added a run from yet another home run, the team's 14th of the season, when Burch fired one out to left-center. It was Burch's second of the year.
Marshall's final run came in the third inning when senior Katie Adams drove home junior Mya Stevenson with a base hit to right-center. The Herd had an opportunity in the bottom of the seventh to at least tie the game. Senior Rachel Rousseau came to the plate with two outs and drew a walk, however Marshall could not find that timely hit.
The Herd finished the game with nine hits and was led by senior Armani Brown who finished 3-for-3. Chelemen recorded two hits.
Redshirt sophomore Cailey Joyce earned the start in the circle and had her first outing in a Thundering Herd uniform. Joyce pitched four innings allowing four hits and one run, while striking out three. Senior Laney Jones pitched the fifth inning and allowed two runs. Garay then pitched the sixth and allowed two more runs and picked up the loss. Blessin pitched the final two outs of the top of the seventh and recorded one strikeout.
Marshall returns to action on Wednesday, March 10, as the Herd travels to Farmville, Va., for a doubleheader at Longwood. First pitch in the twinbill with the Lancers is set for 3 p.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: Kowalski, Caitlyn (3-2)
L: Garay, Madi (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Burke, Addi 1 ; Anderson, Brittany 1 ; Hecker, Regi 1
RBI: Tonoian, Taylor 2 ; Burke, Addi 1 ; Anderson, Brittany 1 ; Hecker, Regi 1
SH: Moeder, Peyton 1 ; Anderson, Brittany 1 ; Skapyak, Kayla 1
SF: Hecker, Regi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Herschbach, Taylor 1 ; Milkowski, Ryan 1 ; Burke, Addi 1 ; Hecker, Regi 1 ; Skapyak, Kayla 1
Batting:
2B: Brown, Armani 1
HR: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Burch, Blakely 1
RBI: Harrell, Aly 2 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Burch, Blakely 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Burch, Blakely 1
SB: Chelemen, Grace 2 ; Kenney, Kay Kay 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballMarshall Softball Class of 2025 Graduates
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Thursday, April 17