Marshall University Athletics
Friday, April 1
Huntington, W.Va.
2:00 PM
Marshall University
20-9, 4-3
11
vs
4
Charlotte
22-12, 4-6
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3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Charlotte
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
4
6
1
Marshall
0
0
3
0
5
3
0
11
13
1
Celebrating Saige Pye's second home run of the game
Photo by: Adam Gue
Pye’s Two Homers Help Power Softball to Coach Smith Lyon’s 100th Win at Marshall
4/1/2022 6:24:00 PM | Softball
Smith Lyon the fastest in team history to reach 100 wins
Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team provided some fireworks in an 11-4 comeback victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Friday, as head coach Megan Smith Lyon earned her 100th win with the Herd. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye smashed two home runs and drove in six.
The Thundering Herd improved to 20-9 overall and 4-3 in Conference USA play. The 49ers drop to 22-12 and 4-6 in league action. Game two is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. from Dot Hicks Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
Coach Smith Lyon picked up win number 100 in her 151st game with the Herd. It was also her 493rd overall in her collegiate coaching career. She is the fastest in program history to reach the century mark in wins. Former head coaches Louie Berndt (1994-1999) and Shonda Stanton (2000-2017) both got to their 100th wins in their 187th game.
The day began an hour later as a snow squall blew through the area right at 11 a.m. when the teams were due to take the field to start warmups. The sun did eventually come out as the teams were set at 2 p.m, and started with a moment of silence for Florida Atlantic's head coach, the legendary Joan Joyce who passed away on Sunday. The Herd will continue the rest of the season with a sticker on their helmets with coach Joyce's initials to honor her memory and legacy. Then, Marshall volleyball head coach Ari Aganus threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the softball team continues to honor women in sports.
Marshall fell behind early as the 49ers took a 3-0 lead after the top of the third, scoring one run in each inning. Charlotte recorded five hits through the first three innings as well, and had chances to drive in more runs if not for some great plays from the Herd defense. In the top of the first, senior Grace Chelemen made a catch in center to end the inning and strand a runner on base. Freshman Lauren Love made another diving catch in left by the line for the third out in the second inning that left two runners on and both in scoring position. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester ended the third with her fifth strikeout of the afternoon that again left another Charlotte runner on base.
Marshall began its comeback in the bottom of the third. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown led off the inning reaching on an infield single. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell smacked a base hit up the middle for her 200th career hit. Harrell is the 12th member of the Marshall Softball 200 Hits Club. Chelemen stepped up next and dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both Brown and Harrell into scoring position. Pye then came up, and with a 2-1 count, crushed a pitch out to left-center. The three-run shot tied the game and was Pye's ninth homer of the season and 24th of her career. Senior Mya Stevenson followed up with a double to center, but got stranded on base as Charlotte worked its way out of the inning.
Both teams were shutout in the fourth. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker ended the top of the fourth, back-tracking from her second base position to catch a fly ball in shallow right field.
The 49ers took back the lead in the top of the fifth as C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Bailey Vannoy hit her second home run of the game. Both were solo shots and Charlotte led 4-3. The lead was short-lived.
Harrell led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left-center and redshirt freshman Amaya Lee came out to run at second. Next, Chelemen took advantage of the defensive shift from the 49ers and pushed a bunt to a gap on the left side of the infield for a single, and Lee advanced to third. Two batters later Stevenson was walked in four pitches to load the bases. Sophomore Autumn Owen came to the plate and on the second pitch ripped a line drive down the right field line into the corner. Lee and Chelemen scored and Stevenson took third on the single. Marshall led 5-4.
The inning continued on as the bats weren't finished. Owen stole second to have two runners in scoring position. Fifth-year senior Katie Adams drew a walk after a 10-pitch battle at the plate. Whitaker didn't waste any time in her at bat, attacking the first pitch sending it out to the fence in right-center for a double that scored Stevenson and Owen. Charlotte's centerfielder bobbled the ball while trying to pick it up at the fence and that allowed Adams to score all the way from first. The Herd now led 8-4.
In the sixth, Marshall rolled through the side as Owen recorded all three outs at third. First out was on a liner right to her, then the next two with the assist on a grounder.
Harrell led off the bottom of the sixth, reaching on a hit-by-pitch, her eighth of the season and 43rd of her career. Chelemen kept the inning rolling with a base hit up the middle bringing Pye to the plate with two runners on once again. The Stockton, California, native blasted another bomb out to center to give the Herd a 7-run lead, 11-4. It was Pye's career-high 10th of the season.
In the top of the seventh, Nester tallied two more strikeouts including getting Vannoy looking for the second out. The final out came on a fly ball to center, landing in Chelemen's glove.
Nester earned her 13th win of the season going the distance for the 16th time out of 18 starts. She tallied eight more strikeouts bringing her season total to 180. After allowing five hits in the first three innings, Nester settled in and allowed just one more hit through the next four innings.
Marshall's offense finished with 13 hits, the 12th time this season in double-digits. Pye had three hits including her two home runs. It was the second time of her career with two homers in a game, the last coming on March 11, 2020, at No. 11 Kentucky. That day, Pye drove in her career-high seven runs. On Friday, she got close with six, tied for the third-most in a game in team history, as she took over the team lead this season with now 33 RBI. Her two home runs also gave her 25 in her collegiate career and 24 during her time with the Herd. Pye is now 12th all-time in program history as she surpassed Alysia Hively (2009-13). Pye has also hit four home runs over the last three games.
Harrell recorded two hits and now has 201 in her career putting Harrell into a tie for 11th all-time with Marshall Hall of Famer Jessica Williams (2003-06). Harrell scored two runs as well to bring her career total to 127, breaking her tie with Williams and moving into eighth all-time at Marshall. Harrell reached base for the 12th-straight game and had her 15th game of the season with two or more hits.
Chelemen had two hits for the second-consecutive game, and scored twice. Owen tallied two hits and drove in two. Whitaker had two hits and two RBI. Brown and Stevenson had one hit each. Stevenson reached base safely for the 16th-straight game.
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.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team provided some fireworks in an 11-4 comeback victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Friday, as head coach Megan Smith Lyon earned her 100th win with the Herd. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye smashed two home runs and drove in six.
The Thundering Herd improved to 20-9 overall and 4-3 in Conference USA play. The 49ers drop to 22-12 and 4-6 in league action. Game two is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. from Dot Hicks Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
Coach Smith Lyon picked up win number 100 in her 151st game with the Herd. It was also her 493rd overall in her collegiate coaching career. She is the fastest in program history to reach the century mark in wins. Former head coaches Louie Berndt (1994-1999) and Shonda Stanton (2000-2017) both got to their 100th wins in their 187th game.
The day began an hour later as a snow squall blew through the area right at 11 a.m. when the teams were due to take the field to start warmups. The sun did eventually come out as the teams were set at 2 p.m, and started with a moment of silence for Florida Atlantic's head coach, the legendary Joan Joyce who passed away on Sunday. The Herd will continue the rest of the season with a sticker on their helmets with coach Joyce's initials to honor her memory and legacy. Then, Marshall volleyball head coach Ari Aganus threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the softball team continues to honor women in sports.
Marshall fell behind early as the 49ers took a 3-0 lead after the top of the third, scoring one run in each inning. Charlotte recorded five hits through the first three innings as well, and had chances to drive in more runs if not for some great plays from the Herd defense. In the top of the first, senior Grace Chelemen made a catch in center to end the inning and strand a runner on base. Freshman Lauren Love made another diving catch in left by the line for the third out in the second inning that left two runners on and both in scoring position. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester ended the third with her fifth strikeout of the afternoon that again left another Charlotte runner on base.
Marshall began its comeback in the bottom of the third. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown led off the inning reaching on an infield single. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell smacked a base hit up the middle for her 200th career hit. Harrell is the 12th member of the Marshall Softball 200 Hits Club. Chelemen stepped up next and dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both Brown and Harrell into scoring position. Pye then came up, and with a 2-1 count, crushed a pitch out to left-center. The three-run shot tied the game and was Pye's ninth homer of the season and 24th of her career. Senior Mya Stevenson followed up with a double to center, but got stranded on base as Charlotte worked its way out of the inning.
Both teams were shutout in the fourth. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker ended the top of the fourth, back-tracking from her second base position to catch a fly ball in shallow right field.
The 49ers took back the lead in the top of the fifth as C-USA Preseason Player of the Year Bailey Vannoy hit her second home run of the game. Both were solo shots and Charlotte led 4-3. The lead was short-lived.
Harrell led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left-center and redshirt freshman Amaya Lee came out to run at second. Next, Chelemen took advantage of the defensive shift from the 49ers and pushed a bunt to a gap on the left side of the infield for a single, and Lee advanced to third. Two batters later Stevenson was walked in four pitches to load the bases. Sophomore Autumn Owen came to the plate and on the second pitch ripped a line drive down the right field line into the corner. Lee and Chelemen scored and Stevenson took third on the single. Marshall led 5-4.
The inning continued on as the bats weren't finished. Owen stole second to have two runners in scoring position. Fifth-year senior Katie Adams drew a walk after a 10-pitch battle at the plate. Whitaker didn't waste any time in her at bat, attacking the first pitch sending it out to the fence in right-center for a double that scored Stevenson and Owen. Charlotte's centerfielder bobbled the ball while trying to pick it up at the fence and that allowed Adams to score all the way from first. The Herd now led 8-4.
In the sixth, Marshall rolled through the side as Owen recorded all three outs at third. First out was on a liner right to her, then the next two with the assist on a grounder.
Harrell led off the bottom of the sixth, reaching on a hit-by-pitch, her eighth of the season and 43rd of her career. Chelemen kept the inning rolling with a base hit up the middle bringing Pye to the plate with two runners on once again. The Stockton, California, native blasted another bomb out to center to give the Herd a 7-run lead, 11-4. It was Pye's career-high 10th of the season.
In the top of the seventh, Nester tallied two more strikeouts including getting Vannoy looking for the second out. The final out came on a fly ball to center, landing in Chelemen's glove.
Nester earned her 13th win of the season going the distance for the 16th time out of 18 starts. She tallied eight more strikeouts bringing her season total to 180. After allowing five hits in the first three innings, Nester settled in and allowed just one more hit through the next four innings.
Marshall's offense finished with 13 hits, the 12th time this season in double-digits. Pye had three hits including her two home runs. It was the second time of her career with two homers in a game, the last coming on March 11, 2020, at No. 11 Kentucky. That day, Pye drove in her career-high seven runs. On Friday, she got close with six, tied for the third-most in a game in team history, as she took over the team lead this season with now 33 RBI. Her two home runs also gave her 25 in her collegiate career and 24 during her time with the Herd. Pye is now 12th all-time in program history as she surpassed Alysia Hively (2009-13). Pye has also hit four home runs over the last three games.
Harrell recorded two hits and now has 201 in her career putting Harrell into a tie for 11th all-time with Marshall Hall of Famer Jessica Williams (2003-06). Harrell scored two runs as well to bring her career total to 127, breaking her tie with Williams and moving into eighth all-time at Marshall. Harrell reached base for the 12th-straight game and had her 15th game of the season with two or more hits.
Chelemen had two hits for the second-consecutive game, and scored twice. Owen tallied two hits and drove in two. Whitaker had two hits and two RBI. Brown and Stevenson had one hit each. Stevenson reached base safely for the 16th-straight game.
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 (13-5)
L: Lindsey Walljasper (10-5)
Batting:
2B: Lindsey Walljasper 1
HR: Bailey Vannoy 2
RBI: Bailey Vannoy 2 ; Ella Chancey 1 ; Mekayla Frazier 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bailey Vannoy 3 ; Ella Chancey 1
SB: Bailey Vannoy 1
HBP: Cori Henderson 1
Batting:
2B: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 1
HR: Pye, Saige 2
RBI: Pye, Saige 6 ; Owen, Autumn 2 ; Whitaker, Madison 2
SH: Chelemen, Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrell, Aly 2 ; Lee, Amaya 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 2 ; Pye, Saige 2 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Owen, Autumn 1 ; Adams, Katie 1 ; Brown, Armani 1
SB: Owen, Autumn 1
HBP: Harrell, Aly 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
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