Marshall University Athletics
Friday, February 11
Atlanta, Ga.
10:00 AM
Marshall University
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Saint Joseph's University
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Saint Joseph's
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Marshall
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Softball Ties Program Home Run Record in Split of Day One of Buzz Classic
2/11/2022 4:09:00 PM | Softball
Herd hits five home runs in game one victory
Marshall vs Saint Joseph's Box (PDF)
Marshall vs. Villanova Box (PDF)
ATLANTA – The Marshall softball team began the 2022 season on fire offensively and in the circle in game one, but couldn't keep it rolling in game two on day one of the Buzz Classic on Friday. The Herd defeated the Saint Joseph's Hawks 8-0 to start the day, then fell 9-1 to the Villanova Wildcats in game two.
Marshall's game one win came on the power of five home runs, tying a team single-game record, and 13 strikeouts from redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester.
The Thundering Herd begins the year 1-1.
Game One: Marshall 8, Saint Joseph's 0 (6 innings)
Everything was working on all cylinders for Marshall in game one. Right from the start, Nester was in control in the circle. The transfer from North Carolina State struck out the first two batters she faced on the way to the shutout. Nester allowed just two hits with zero walks in her Herd debut. The Hillsville, Virginia, native struck out at least two batters in every inning, including striking out the side in the second inning.
Fifth-year senior Katie Adams got the scoring, and the home run barrage, started in the top of the second with a leadoff home run to left-center. It was the eighth homer of her career and the Herd led 1-0 after two innings.
Redshirt senior Armani Brown started the Marshall defense with a great play at second for the first out of the inning, before Nester struck out the next two bringing her game total to seven.
After a scoreless third inning, fifth-year senior Aly Harrell belted a solo homer to left-center in the bottom of the fourth to give the Herd a 2-0 lead. It was Harrell's 41st home run of her career, breaking her tie with senior Mya Stevenson to take over second all-time in team history. That lead was short-lived.
In the top of the fifth, Nester struck out the first two batters before a double by Taylor Marinelli gave the Hawks its first hit and base-runner of the game. Harrell then made a great catch on a liner by first base for the third out, keeping Saint Joseph's scoreless.
Marshall's offense then caught fire as a whole in the bottom of the fifth. Redshirt junior Autumn Owen recorded her first hit in a Herd uniform with a single to shallow right. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker then stepped to plate and ripped the first pitch for a laser, line-drive shot over the fence in center for a two-run home run. It was the second home run of her Marshall career, and the 10th of her collegiate career hitting eight with Wright State. The Herd led 4-0.
After a Hawks pitching change, sophomore Kay Kay Kenney hit a single just over the shortstop. Kenney stole second before taking third on a sacrifice bunt from Brown. Senior Grace Chelemen drew a one-out walk to have runners in the corners. Chelemen then stole second for her first theft of the year. Two batters later, with two-away, fifth-year senior Saige Pye blasted a pitch out to left for a three-run homer, and the fourth long ball of the game for the Marshall offense and a 7-0 lead.
Nester came back out in the sixth and struck out the first two batters again to bring her total to 13, just two away from her career-high of 15 set against College of Charleston back in 2019 as a freshman at NC State. Jordan Hinkle reached on an infield single to keep things going for the Hawks. Nester then tallied the final out, snagging a one-hopper by the circle and tossing it to Harrell at first.
Stevenson led off the bottom of the sixth, and on the third pitch, cranked a homer to right field. The solo home run ended the game by the mercy rule and was the 41st of her career, putting Stevenson back into a tie with Harrell for second all-time in program history.
Five home runs from five different players. The season-opener tied the mark that was originally set on April 9, 2014 at Northern Kentucky where Shaelynn Braxton led the way with three of the five homers. The record was tied three other times, all by Megan Smith Lyon coached teams. The first was Feb. 16, 2019 against Presbyterian. The second and third times were both in the 2020 season coming on Feb. 28 versus Delaware State and then March 11 at No. 11 Kentucky.
In the win over Saint Joseph's, the Herd totaled eight hits with Adams leading the way with two. The Hurricane, West Virginia, native also hit a double in the fourth. Four of Marshall's five fifth-year seniors hit a home run in their last opening day of their incredible careers. The other Herd senior in her fifth season, Armani Brown, made a great play at second as well as a wonderfully executed sacrifice bunt.
Game Two: Villanova 9, Marshall 1 (5 innings)
Marshall struggled in game two of the day against the Wildcats. Villanova scored two in the first, three in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and one more in the fifth for the win.
The Herd finally got on the scoreboard showing some fight in the top of the fifth, facing the mercy rule. Madison Whitaker led off with a single off the wall in right. Freshman Brooklyn Ulrich made her collegiate debut, pinch running at first for Whitaker. Ulrich advanced to second on the next batter to get into scoring position with two away. Freshman Lauren Love came in to pinch hit, making her collegiate debut as well.
Love battled against preseason All-American pitcher Paige Rauch over a 10-pitch at bat. Love fouled off five pitches and worked it to a full count, before hitting a liner up the middle for a single. Ulrich used her speed to score from second, cutting the deficit to seven and at least moving the game into the bottom of the fifth. Unfortunately for Marshall, Villanova drove in one more run to get the early win.
Redshirt junior Cailey Joyce got the start and took the loss. Freshman Bub Feringa came in to pitch in the second inning, making her collegiate debut, and pitched Marshall into the third. Junior Ashley Blessin finished the game in the circle for Marshall.
The Herd had three hits on offense with senior Camryn Michallas recording a single to lead off the third along with the base hits from Whitaker and Love. Marshall's defense still made some great plays with Mya Stevenson catching a hard-sinking liner in right and Aly Harrell leaping up to snag a hard line drive at first.
The Herd continues in the Buzz Classic on Saturday, playing against both Villanova and Saint Joseph's again. The day begins against Villanova with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. Then Marshall has a break before returning to the field against Saint Joseph's at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul on Stream 1. The games will also be simulcast on Facebook Live.
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.
Marshall vs. Villanova Box (PDF)
ATLANTA – The Marshall softball team began the 2022 season on fire offensively and in the circle in game one, but couldn't keep it rolling in game two on day one of the Buzz Classic on Friday. The Herd defeated the Saint Joseph's Hawks 8-0 to start the day, then fell 9-1 to the Villanova Wildcats in game two.
Marshall's game one win came on the power of five home runs, tying a team single-game record, and 13 strikeouts from redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester.
The Thundering Herd begins the year 1-1.
Game One: Marshall 8, Saint Joseph's 0 (6 innings)
Everything was working on all cylinders for Marshall in game one. Right from the start, Nester was in control in the circle. The transfer from North Carolina State struck out the first two batters she faced on the way to the shutout. Nester allowed just two hits with zero walks in her Herd debut. The Hillsville, Virginia, native struck out at least two batters in every inning, including striking out the side in the second inning.
Fifth-year senior Katie Adams got the scoring, and the home run barrage, started in the top of the second with a leadoff home run to left-center. It was the eighth homer of her career and the Herd led 1-0 after two innings.
Redshirt senior Armani Brown started the Marshall defense with a great play at second for the first out of the inning, before Nester struck out the next two bringing her game total to seven.
After a scoreless third inning, fifth-year senior Aly Harrell belted a solo homer to left-center in the bottom of the fourth to give the Herd a 2-0 lead. It was Harrell's 41st home run of her career, breaking her tie with senior Mya Stevenson to take over second all-time in team history. That lead was short-lived.
In the top of the fifth, Nester struck out the first two batters before a double by Taylor Marinelli gave the Hawks its first hit and base-runner of the game. Harrell then made a great catch on a liner by first base for the third out, keeping Saint Joseph's scoreless.
Marshall's offense then caught fire as a whole in the bottom of the fifth. Redshirt junior Autumn Owen recorded her first hit in a Herd uniform with a single to shallow right. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker then stepped to plate and ripped the first pitch for a laser, line-drive shot over the fence in center for a two-run home run. It was the second home run of her Marshall career, and the 10th of her collegiate career hitting eight with Wright State. The Herd led 4-0.
After a Hawks pitching change, sophomore Kay Kay Kenney hit a single just over the shortstop. Kenney stole second before taking third on a sacrifice bunt from Brown. Senior Grace Chelemen drew a one-out walk to have runners in the corners. Chelemen then stole second for her first theft of the year. Two batters later, with two-away, fifth-year senior Saige Pye blasted a pitch out to left for a three-run homer, and the fourth long ball of the game for the Marshall offense and a 7-0 lead.
Nester came back out in the sixth and struck out the first two batters again to bring her total to 13, just two away from her career-high of 15 set against College of Charleston back in 2019 as a freshman at NC State. Jordan Hinkle reached on an infield single to keep things going for the Hawks. Nester then tallied the final out, snagging a one-hopper by the circle and tossing it to Harrell at first.
Stevenson led off the bottom of the sixth, and on the third pitch, cranked a homer to right field. The solo home run ended the game by the mercy rule and was the 41st of her career, putting Stevenson back into a tie with Harrell for second all-time in program history.
Five home runs from five different players. The season-opener tied the mark that was originally set on April 9, 2014 at Northern Kentucky where Shaelynn Braxton led the way with three of the five homers. The record was tied three other times, all by Megan Smith Lyon coached teams. The first was Feb. 16, 2019 against Presbyterian. The second and third times were both in the 2020 season coming on Feb. 28 versus Delaware State and then March 11 at No. 11 Kentucky.
In the win over Saint Joseph's, the Herd totaled eight hits with Adams leading the way with two. The Hurricane, West Virginia, native also hit a double in the fourth. Four of Marshall's five fifth-year seniors hit a home run in their last opening day of their incredible careers. The other Herd senior in her fifth season, Armani Brown, made a great play at second as well as a wonderfully executed sacrifice bunt.
Game Two: Villanova 9, Marshall 1 (5 innings)
Marshall struggled in game two of the day against the Wildcats. Villanova scored two in the first, three in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and one more in the fifth for the win.
The Herd finally got on the scoreboard showing some fight in the top of the fifth, facing the mercy rule. Madison Whitaker led off with a single off the wall in right. Freshman Brooklyn Ulrich made her collegiate debut, pinch running at first for Whitaker. Ulrich advanced to second on the next batter to get into scoring position with two away. Freshman Lauren Love came in to pinch hit, making her collegiate debut as well.
Love battled against preseason All-American pitcher Paige Rauch over a 10-pitch at bat. Love fouled off five pitches and worked it to a full count, before hitting a liner up the middle for a single. Ulrich used her speed to score from second, cutting the deficit to seven and at least moving the game into the bottom of the fifth. Unfortunately for Marshall, Villanova drove in one more run to get the early win.
Redshirt junior Cailey Joyce got the start and took the loss. Freshman Bub Feringa came in to pitch in the second inning, making her collegiate debut, and pitched Marshall into the third. Junior Ashley Blessin finished the game in the circle for Marshall.
The Herd had three hits on offense with senior Camryn Michallas recording a single to lead off the third along with the base hits from Whitaker and Love. Marshall's defense still made some great plays with Mya Stevenson catching a hard-sinking liner in right and Aly Harrell leaping up to snag a hard line drive at first.
The Herd continues in the Buzz Classic on Saturday, playing against both Villanova and Saint Joseph's again. The day begins against Villanova with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. Then Marshall has a break before returning to the field against Saint Joseph's at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul on Stream 1. The games will also be simulcast on Facebook Live.
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.
---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nester, Sydney (1-0)
L: Amanda Herr (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Taylor Marinelli 1
Batting:
2B: Adams, Katie 1
HR: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 1
RBI: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Pye, Saige 3 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 2
SH: Brown, Armani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Owen, Autumn 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 1 ; Kenney, Kay Kay 1
SB: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Kenney, Kay Kay 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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P/UT
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OF
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C/INF
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INF
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