Marshall University Athletics
Sunday, April 10
Boca Raton, FL
11:30 AM
Marshall University
24-10, 0
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Florida Atlantic University
21-20, 0
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Marshall
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Florida Atlantic
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Softball Takes Series Over Owls
4/10/2022 3:10:00 PM | Softball
Nester tallies 11 more strikeouts
Box Score (PDF)
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Marshall softball team took game three, 3-2, on Sunday over the Florida Atlantic Owls to win the series two games to one. Redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester recorded 11 more strikeouts for her 17th win.
The Thundering Herd improved to 24-10 overall and 8-4 in Conference USA action. The Owls fall to 21-20 and 9-6 in league play.
Nester finished with double-digit strikeouts for the 10th time this season. She is the third pitcher in team history since 2000 to record at least 10 games of 10 or more strikeouts in a single season. Sara Gulla (1998-2001) was the first in 2001 with 11 games as she finished with 270 strikeouts for the year. Andi Williamson (2011-13) had 12 in 2013 and ended the year with 364.
Nester allowed six hits and just one run was earned.
Marshall was able to get a few runners on base in the first and second innings but could not push a run across the plate. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell got the scoring started with a solo home run to lead off the third inning. The blast out to right was her sixth of the season and 46th of her career. Two batters later, fifth-year senior Saige Pye had a base hit to left-center. Pye then moved to second as senior Mya Stevenson reached on an infield error. Redshirt freshman Amaya Lee then entered to run at second for Pye. Sophomore Autumn Owen ripped a double to right that allowed Lee to score and gave Marshall a 2-0 lead.
Nester struck out the side in the bottom of the third, bringing her game total to five.
Florida Atlantic scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to one. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker made a diving catch at second to end the inning and strand an Owl runner on base.
The Herd added one more run in the top of the sixth. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown reached on a one-out walk. Harrell was then plunked for the second time in the game, and sophomore Kay Kay Kenney came out to run for Harrell at first. Senior Grace Chelemen delivered a single to center and Brown scored from second. Marshall led 3-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Florida Atlantic scored one run to cut the Herd's lead to one, 3-2. With the game-tying run at first, and two away, Nester struck out the next batter to end the game and preserve the series win for Marshall.
Harrell's two hit-by-pitches in the win give her 47 for her career as she moves into second place all-time in team history, surpassing her old teammate Sierra Huerta (2019-21). Marcena Bertoldo (2007-10) is the all-time record holder with 53 hit-by-pitches.
Brown was 1-of-2 at the plate with a walk and the run scored that ended up being the difference. Chelemen, Pye, Owen and Adams all had one hit each.
Next up for Marshall is a midweek doubleheader at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday April 12. First pitch from Highland Heights, Kentucky, is set for 2 p.m. The Herd then returns to Dot Hicks Field, April 14-16, for a three-game series with the FIU Panthers. The series finale on April 16 will be Emileigh Cooper Day, when Marshall honors the memory of Cooper and hands out the 2022 Warrior Award.
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.
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Marshall softball team took game three, 3-2, on Sunday over the Florida Atlantic Owls to win the series two games to one. Redshirt junior pitcher Sydney Nester recorded 11 more strikeouts for her 17th win.
The Thundering Herd improved to 24-10 overall and 8-4 in Conference USA action. The Owls fall to 21-20 and 9-6 in league play.
Nester finished with double-digit strikeouts for the 10th time this season. She is the third pitcher in team history since 2000 to record at least 10 games of 10 or more strikeouts in a single season. Sara Gulla (1998-2001) was the first in 2001 with 11 games as she finished with 270 strikeouts for the year. Andi Williamson (2011-13) had 12 in 2013 and ended the year with 364.
Nester allowed six hits and just one run was earned.
Marshall was able to get a few runners on base in the first and second innings but could not push a run across the plate. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell got the scoring started with a solo home run to lead off the third inning. The blast out to right was her sixth of the season and 46th of her career. Two batters later, fifth-year senior Saige Pye had a base hit to left-center. Pye then moved to second as senior Mya Stevenson reached on an infield error. Redshirt freshman Amaya Lee then entered to run at second for Pye. Sophomore Autumn Owen ripped a double to right that allowed Lee to score and gave Marshall a 2-0 lead.
Nester struck out the side in the bottom of the third, bringing her game total to five.
Florida Atlantic scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to one. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker made a diving catch at second to end the inning and strand an Owl runner on base.
The Herd added one more run in the top of the sixth. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown reached on a one-out walk. Harrell was then plunked for the second time in the game, and sophomore Kay Kay Kenney came out to run for Harrell at first. Senior Grace Chelemen delivered a single to center and Brown scored from second. Marshall led 3-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Florida Atlantic scored one run to cut the Herd's lead to one, 3-2. With the game-tying run at first, and two away, Nester struck out the next batter to end the game and preserve the series win for Marshall.
Harrell's two hit-by-pitches in the win give her 47 for her career as she moves into second place all-time in team history, surpassing her old teammate Sierra Huerta (2019-21). Marcena Bertoldo (2007-10) is the all-time record holder with 53 hit-by-pitches.
Brown was 1-of-2 at the plate with a walk and the run scored that ended up being the difference. Chelemen, Pye, Owen and Adams all had one hit each.
Next up for Marshall is a midweek doubleheader at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday April 12. First pitch from Highland Heights, Kentucky, is set for 2 p.m. The Herd then returns to Dot Hicks Field, April 14-16, for a three-game series with the FIU Panthers. The series finale on April 16 will be Emileigh Cooper Day, when Marshall honors the memory of Cooper and hands out the 2022 Warrior Award.
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 (17-5)
L: Gabby Sacco (7-6)
Batting:
2B: Owen, Autumn 1
HR: Harrell, Aly 1
RBI: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Owen, Autumn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Pye, Saige 1 ; Brown, Armani 1
HBP: Harrell, Aly 2
Batting:
2B: Zoey Jones 1
RBI: Kaitlyn Cunningham 1 ; Myah Murray 1
SH: Olivia Peterson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sara Berthiaume 1 ; Maya Amm 1
SB: Maddie Carlock 1 ; Maya Amm 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
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INF
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OF
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P
/ SoftballC/INF
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OF
/ Softball
INF
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