Marshall University Athletics
Friday, March 11
Huntington, W.Va.
11:00 AM
Marshall University
14-5
8
vs
0
Fairfield University
4-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Fairfield
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Marshall
0
1
0
2
3
2
8
13
0
Mya Stevenson
Photo by: Adam Gue
Softball Takes Two on Friday at Dot Hicks Field
3/11/2022 8:43:00 PM | Softball
Nester earns seventh shutout in game one
Fairfield Box Score (PDF)
Norfolk State Box Score (PDF)
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team earned two more wins with a shutout and a comeback victory on Friday at Dot Hicks Field on day one of Thundering Herd March Madness. Marshall defeated Fairfield 8-0 in game one, and then fought back for a 7-6 victory over Norfolk State in game two.
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The Thundering Herd improves 15-5 and has now won 10-straight games, matching the third-longest streak in team history. Marshall won 10 in-a-row March 28-April 12, 2015.
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Day two of Thundering Herd March Madness is scheduled to begin Saturday at 1 p.m. with Marshall taking on Western Carolina. With the threat of inclement weather, the decision on Saturday's action as well as the remainder of the weekend will be made Saturday morning.
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GAME ONE: Marshall 8, Fairfield 0 (6 innings)
The day began with another great special guest first pitch from Marshall tennis star Liz Stefancic as Marshall softball continues to honor women in sports.
Redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester threw another gem with a one-hit shutout over the Stags. Nester tallied six strikeouts, picked up her ninth win and seventh shutout of the season.
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Nester also received great defensive play behind her throughout the contest. Freshman shortstop Lauren Love had three assists and two putouts. Sophomore third base Autumn Owen had two assists. Redshirt senior Armani Brown ran down a fly ball in shallow right field by the line and had one assist. Senior rightfielder Mya Stevenson made a grab in foul territory after a long run to end the first inning. Marshall did not commit an error.
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Brown also got the scoring started for the Herd's offense. Owen hit a one-out double to right-center and then scored on a single to right from Brown in the second inning.
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Brown continued her great day at the plate with a two-run double in the fourth that plated Owen and freshman Alex Coleman. Marshall led 4-0.
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Nester kept on rolling in the top of the fifth with another 1-2-3 inning with great plays from Brown and Love, then capping the frame with her fifth strikeout.
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The bats came out slugging in the bottom of the fifth. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center. It was her third of the season and 43rd of her career. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye followed the home run with a single to center. After a pitching change for Fairfield, and redshirt freshman Amaya Lee coming in to run for Pye, Stevenson cranked a line drive over the fence in right-center for a two-run home run. It was Stevenson's fifth, tied for the team lead with Pye, and 45th of her career. The Herd ended the fifth leading 6-0.
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The Stags recorded its first hit of the game in the top of the sixth, however a pop out back to Nester in the circle, and then another pop out to Harrell at first stranded the runner at first.
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Marshall ended the game in the bottom of the sixth. Brown led off with an infield single, her third hit of the game. Love then hit a double to right-center that moved Brown to third. Harrell stepped up next and delivered the game-ender with a double to left-center scoring both Brown and Love to give the Herd the run-rule victory.
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The Herd totaled 13 hits in game one. Brown was 3-for-3 at the plate, tying her career-high for hits, and recorded her 100th career hit with her first of the game. Brown also set a career-best with three RBI in the win. Harrell, Stevenson and Owen had two hits each. Harrell's two hits moved her into 14th all-time at Marshall with 184 career hits. She also drove in three runs. Stevenson had two RBI. Owen reached base all three times at the plate with the two hits and one walk. She scored two runs as well.
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Marshall had five doubles against Fairfield, tied for a season-high, and one away from tying the program record of six last accomplished on March 20, 2021, at Chattanooga.
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GAME TWO: Marshall 7, Norfolk State 6
The Herd took the early lead, fell behind, and kept fighting against the Spartans for the one-run win.
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Marshall scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Aly Harrell hit a one-out double, the 42nd of her career putting Harrell into a tie for fifth all-time in program history. Harrell took third on a wild pitch with Saige Pye at the plate. Pye eventually drew a walk. Another wild pitch allowed Harrell to score and Pye to take second. Freshman Bub Feringa moved Pye to third with a base hit and then Autumn Owen sent Pye home with another single to right.
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Norfolk State put together a big inning in the top of the second scoring six runs off six hits as 11 Spartans came to the plate, and took a four-run lead 6-2. Redshirt junior Cailey Joyce had the start in the circle and was pulled after six batters in the second for Feringa, who faced five more batters before getting the final out.
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However, Marshall began to chip away at the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second. Alex Coleman led off the inning with an infield single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Armani Brown. Two batters later, Harrell drove home Coleman with a single to center, and Harrell advanced to second on the throw home. Pye then reached on an infield single, and Harrell caught the defense napping and scored.
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The Spartans managed to get one runner on base in the third, but the Marshall defense responded with more great glove work and a strikeout from Feringa to end the inning.
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The Herd took advantage of an error to cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third. Marshall had the bases loaded with Owen at third, fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker at second and Coleman on first. Freshman Rielly Lucas came in to pinch hit and popped up. The infield fly rule was called, retiring Lucas, however the ball was dropped at second base and each runner advanced. The throw home was not in time as Owen stepped on the plate.
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Norfolk State threatened in the fourth with two runners on. Feringa ended the inning with a pop up back to the circle to keep Marshall's deficit at one, 6-5.
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The Herd had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth after Mya Stevenson stole second, however Marshall could not find the timely hit.
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Sophomore pitcher Brianna McCown came out to the circle to start the fifth, making her first appearance of the year after dealing with an injury from the fall. McCown blew through the Spartans in just nine pitches, striking out one batter.
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Owen led off the bottom of the fifth reaching on a walk. It was the sixth-straight plate appearance of the day that Owen reached base safely. Whitaker then ripped a double down the right field line that moved Owen to third. Owen later scored on a wild pitch that tied the game at 6-6, and Whitaker advanced to third. Lauren Love gave Marshall the lead, 7-6, with a double to left-center that plated Whitaker.
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Sydney Nester came out to pitch in the sixth and retired the side in order, two by strikeout. Norfolk State had one more chance in the top of the seventh still trailing by one. After a single to left put the leadoff batter on base, Nester sat down the next one with her third strikeout of the game. The defense then capped the day with a 5-4-3 double play of Whitaker to Brown to Harrell.
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McCown earned the win as the pitcher of record when the Herd took the lead. It was her first of the season and fifth of her career. Nester tallied the save, her second of the season and third of her career.
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Marshall recorded 11 more hits in the win. Harrell led the way with three and scored two runs. Owen had two hits, one walk, scored two runs and had one RBI. Coleman also had two hits and scored once. Whitaker, getting the start at third base had five assists and one putout to go along with one hit, one walk and one run on offense. Brown added two more assists and three putouts on defense.
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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.
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Norfolk State Box Score (PDF)
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team earned two more wins with a shutout and a comeback victory on Friday at Dot Hicks Field on day one of Thundering Herd March Madness. Marshall defeated Fairfield 8-0 in game one, and then fought back for a 7-6 victory over Norfolk State in game two.
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The Thundering Herd improves 15-5 and has now won 10-straight games, matching the third-longest streak in team history. Marshall won 10 in-a-row March 28-April 12, 2015.
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Day two of Thundering Herd March Madness is scheduled to begin Saturday at 1 p.m. with Marshall taking on Western Carolina. With the threat of inclement weather, the decision on Saturday's action as well as the remainder of the weekend will be made Saturday morning.
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GAME ONE: Marshall 8, Fairfield 0 (6 innings)
The day began with another great special guest first pitch from Marshall tennis star Liz Stefancic as Marshall softball continues to honor women in sports.
Redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester threw another gem with a one-hit shutout over the Stags. Nester tallied six strikeouts, picked up her ninth win and seventh shutout of the season.
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Nester also received great defensive play behind her throughout the contest. Freshman shortstop Lauren Love had three assists and two putouts. Sophomore third base Autumn Owen had two assists. Redshirt senior Armani Brown ran down a fly ball in shallow right field by the line and had one assist. Senior rightfielder Mya Stevenson made a grab in foul territory after a long run to end the first inning. Marshall did not commit an error.
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Brown also got the scoring started for the Herd's offense. Owen hit a one-out double to right-center and then scored on a single to right from Brown in the second inning.
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Brown continued her great day at the plate with a two-run double in the fourth that plated Owen and freshman Alex Coleman. Marshall led 4-0.
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Nester kept on rolling in the top of the fifth with another 1-2-3 inning with great plays from Brown and Love, then capping the frame with her fifth strikeout.
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The bats came out slugging in the bottom of the fifth. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center. It was her third of the season and 43rd of her career. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye followed the home run with a single to center. After a pitching change for Fairfield, and redshirt freshman Amaya Lee coming in to run for Pye, Stevenson cranked a line drive over the fence in right-center for a two-run home run. It was Stevenson's fifth, tied for the team lead with Pye, and 45th of her career. The Herd ended the fifth leading 6-0.
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The Stags recorded its first hit of the game in the top of the sixth, however a pop out back to Nester in the circle, and then another pop out to Harrell at first stranded the runner at first.
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Marshall ended the game in the bottom of the sixth. Brown led off with an infield single, her third hit of the game. Love then hit a double to right-center that moved Brown to third. Harrell stepped up next and delivered the game-ender with a double to left-center scoring both Brown and Love to give the Herd the run-rule victory.
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The Herd totaled 13 hits in game one. Brown was 3-for-3 at the plate, tying her career-high for hits, and recorded her 100th career hit with her first of the game. Brown also set a career-best with three RBI in the win. Harrell, Stevenson and Owen had two hits each. Harrell's two hits moved her into 14th all-time at Marshall with 184 career hits. She also drove in three runs. Stevenson had two RBI. Owen reached base all three times at the plate with the two hits and one walk. She scored two runs as well.
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Marshall had five doubles against Fairfield, tied for a season-high, and one away from tying the program record of six last accomplished on March 20, 2021, at Chattanooga.
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GAME TWO: Marshall 7, Norfolk State 6
The Herd took the early lead, fell behind, and kept fighting against the Spartans for the one-run win.
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Marshall scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Aly Harrell hit a one-out double, the 42nd of her career putting Harrell into a tie for fifth all-time in program history. Harrell took third on a wild pitch with Saige Pye at the plate. Pye eventually drew a walk. Another wild pitch allowed Harrell to score and Pye to take second. Freshman Bub Feringa moved Pye to third with a base hit and then Autumn Owen sent Pye home with another single to right.
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Norfolk State put together a big inning in the top of the second scoring six runs off six hits as 11 Spartans came to the plate, and took a four-run lead 6-2. Redshirt junior Cailey Joyce had the start in the circle and was pulled after six batters in the second for Feringa, who faced five more batters before getting the final out.
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However, Marshall began to chip away at the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second. Alex Coleman led off the inning with an infield single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Armani Brown. Two batters later, Harrell drove home Coleman with a single to center, and Harrell advanced to second on the throw home. Pye then reached on an infield single, and Harrell caught the defense napping and scored.
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The Spartans managed to get one runner on base in the third, but the Marshall defense responded with more great glove work and a strikeout from Feringa to end the inning.
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The Herd took advantage of an error to cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third. Marshall had the bases loaded with Owen at third, fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker at second and Coleman on first. Freshman Rielly Lucas came in to pinch hit and popped up. The infield fly rule was called, retiring Lucas, however the ball was dropped at second base and each runner advanced. The throw home was not in time as Owen stepped on the plate.
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Norfolk State threatened in the fourth with two runners on. Feringa ended the inning with a pop up back to the circle to keep Marshall's deficit at one, 6-5.
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The Herd had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth after Mya Stevenson stole second, however Marshall could not find the timely hit.
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Sophomore pitcher Brianna McCown came out to the circle to start the fifth, making her first appearance of the year after dealing with an injury from the fall. McCown blew through the Spartans in just nine pitches, striking out one batter.
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Owen led off the bottom of the fifth reaching on a walk. It was the sixth-straight plate appearance of the day that Owen reached base safely. Whitaker then ripped a double down the right field line that moved Owen to third. Owen later scored on a wild pitch that tied the game at 6-6, and Whitaker advanced to third. Lauren Love gave Marshall the lead, 7-6, with a double to left-center that plated Whitaker.
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Sydney Nester came out to pitch in the sixth and retired the side in order, two by strikeout. Norfolk State had one more chance in the top of the seventh still trailing by one. After a single to left put the leadoff batter on base, Nester sat down the next one with her third strikeout of the game. The defense then capped the day with a 5-4-3 double play of Whitaker to Brown to Harrell.
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McCown earned the win as the pitcher of record when the Herd took the lead. It was her first of the season and fifth of her career. Nester tallied the save, her second of the season and third of her career.
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Marshall recorded 11 more hits in the win. Harrell led the way with three and scored two runs. Owen had two hits, one walk, scored two runs and had one RBI. Coleman also had two hits and scored once. Whitaker, getting the start at third base had five assists and one putout to go along with one hit, one walk and one run on offense. Brown added two more assists and three putouts on defense.
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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.
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---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McCown, Brianna (1-0)
L: ANDERSEN,Cam (0-4)
S: Nester, Sydney (2)
Batting:
2B: POTTER,Lily 1 ; GILBREATH,Rylie 1 ; DAVIS,Yrral 1
RBI: POTTER,Lily 1 ; GILBREATH,Rylie 1 ; JOHNSON,Morgan 1 ; DAVIS,Yrral 1
SH: JOHNSON,Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: POTTER,Lily 1 ; GUCKIN,Alison 1 ; HIGA,Kenna 1 ; MOORE,Imani 1 ; GILBREATH,Rylie 1 ; DAVIS,Yrral 1
SB: GUCKIN,Alison 1 ; VAUGHAN,Gabby 1
CS: GUCKIN,Alison 1
Batting:
2B: Love, Lauren 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 1
RBI: Love, Lauren 1 ; Harrell, Aly 1 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Owen, Autumn 1
SH: Brown, Armani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrell, Aly 2 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Owen, Autumn 2 ; Whitaker, Madison 1 ; Coleman, Alex 1
SB: Stevenson, Mya 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
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