Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, April 23
Bowling Green, KY
2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT
Marshall University
30-12, 12-5
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Western Kentucky University
29-9, 12-5
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Marshall
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WKU
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Photo by: Adam Gue
Softball Falls in Game Two Slugfest at WKU
4/23/2022 7:30:00 PM | Softball
Game three Sunday at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET
Box Score (PDF)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Marshall softball team dropped a 10-9 decision on Saturday against the WKU Hilltoppers. The loss evens the series to set up the rubber match on Sunday.
The Thundering Herd is now 30-12 overall and 12-5 in Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers improve to 29-9 overall and also 12-5 in league action. The teams are tied once again at the top of the East Division. First pitch of game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time, 2 p.m. eastern. The game will be live streamed on HSSN on Facebook and will also be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
Saturday's contest was the complete opposite of Friday night's game. The first game of the series was a 2-0 Marshall win with just seven combined hits. Saturday totaled 19 runs, 19 hits and seven total home runs.
Fifth-year senior Saige Pye smacked two home runs and senior Mya Stevenson moved closer to history with her 57th career homer. Stevenson needs just one more home run to tie Marshall Hall of Famer Rachel Folden (2005-08) for the all-time Herd home run record.
Marshall started the scoring in the top of the first. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell led off the game with a single to center. Senior Grace Chelemen joined Harrell on base after an infield single leading to Pye. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, Pye launched a shot to left-center that entered the third floor of the parking garage. The Herd managed to load the bases following the home run as Stevenson was walked, and then with two outs, fifth-year senior Katie Adams and freshman Lauren Love were also walked. Marshall could not get the timely hit and the Hilltoppers got out of the inning.
WKU responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Marshall led 3-2.
The Herd put up three more runs in the second inning. This time off the bat of Stevenson. With one out, Chelemen hit a single to right-center and then Pye was walked. Stevenson went deep to left for her 17th home run of the season and to inch closer to program history. WKU scored one more run in the bottom of the second with its first home run. The solo shot by Bailey Curry cut the Herd's lead to three, 6-3.
The long ball came right back in the top of the third. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown led off the inning with a walk. Three batters later, and two outs, Pye went deep to centerfield for her second home run of the day. The two run shot gave Marshall an 8-3 lead.
It was the second time this season that Pye had two home runs in a game, the other was game one against Charlotte on April 1, and the third of her career. The first coming in 2020 at No. 11 Kentucky. It was Pye's 16th home run of the season, the 31st of her collegiate career and 30th in her time at Marshall. She moved into sixth place all-time in program history.
WKU scored another run in the bottom of the third off another solo home run this time from Jordan Ridge. The Herd led 8-4 as the offense began to struggle.
The Hilltoppers scored one run in the fourth and two in the sixth including another solo home run from Curry. Marshall led by one, 8-7, at the end of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Harrell reached base off an error with two outs. Redshirt freshman Amaya Lee came in to run for Harrell at first. Lee then advanced to second on a wild pitch and then took third on a single to right from Chelemen. Lee later scored on another wild pitch to give Marshall a two-run lead, 9-7.
The Hilltoppers battled in the bottom of the seventh with one run crossing the plate on a double and then a two-run home run from Maddie Bowlds for the walk-off win.
Marshall had 10 hits and drew seven walks. It was the ninth game this season that the Herd has hits at least three home runs.
Chelemen had three hits and scored two runs. Pye drove in five runs off her two bombs. Stevenson had two hits and three RBI. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker had a base hit in the second inning. She is on a four-game hitting streak but has reached base safely in 19-straight contests. Whitaker's streak is tied for the longest of the season by a Herd batter. Stevenson reached base safely in 19-straight games from March 3-April 8. Whitaker's streak began on March 11 versus Norfolk State.
Sophomore Autumn Owen had one hit and a walk. Love drew two walks.
Sophomore Brianna McCown had the start in the circle and pitched four innings. She allowed four hits, five runs, three earned and had two strikeouts. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester entered the game to begin the fifth inning. She finished the game and took the loss. It was her first loss since March 20 at UAB.
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.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Marshall softball team dropped a 10-9 decision on Saturday against the WKU Hilltoppers. The loss evens the series to set up the rubber match on Sunday.
The Thundering Herd is now 30-12 overall and 12-5 in Conference USA play. The Hilltoppers improve to 29-9 overall and also 12-5 in league action. The teams are tied once again at the top of the East Division. First pitch of game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time, 2 p.m. eastern. The game will be live streamed on HSSN on Facebook and will also be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM with audio streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul.
Saturday's contest was the complete opposite of Friday night's game. The first game of the series was a 2-0 Marshall win with just seven combined hits. Saturday totaled 19 runs, 19 hits and seven total home runs.
Fifth-year senior Saige Pye smacked two home runs and senior Mya Stevenson moved closer to history with her 57th career homer. Stevenson needs just one more home run to tie Marshall Hall of Famer Rachel Folden (2005-08) for the all-time Herd home run record.
Marshall started the scoring in the top of the first. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell led off the game with a single to center. Senior Grace Chelemen joined Harrell on base after an infield single leading to Pye. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, Pye launched a shot to left-center that entered the third floor of the parking garage. The Herd managed to load the bases following the home run as Stevenson was walked, and then with two outs, fifth-year senior Katie Adams and freshman Lauren Love were also walked. Marshall could not get the timely hit and the Hilltoppers got out of the inning.
WKU responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Marshall led 3-2.
The Herd put up three more runs in the second inning. This time off the bat of Stevenson. With one out, Chelemen hit a single to right-center and then Pye was walked. Stevenson went deep to left for her 17th home run of the season and to inch closer to program history. WKU scored one more run in the bottom of the second with its first home run. The solo shot by Bailey Curry cut the Herd's lead to three, 6-3.
The long ball came right back in the top of the third. Fifth-year senior Armani Brown led off the inning with a walk. Three batters later, and two outs, Pye went deep to centerfield for her second home run of the day. The two run shot gave Marshall an 8-3 lead.
It was the second time this season that Pye had two home runs in a game, the other was game one against Charlotte on April 1, and the third of her career. The first coming in 2020 at No. 11 Kentucky. It was Pye's 16th home run of the season, the 31st of her collegiate career and 30th in her time at Marshall. She moved into sixth place all-time in program history.
WKU scored another run in the bottom of the third off another solo home run this time from Jordan Ridge. The Herd led 8-4 as the offense began to struggle.
The Hilltoppers scored one run in the fourth and two in the sixth including another solo home run from Curry. Marshall led by one, 8-7, at the end of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Harrell reached base off an error with two outs. Redshirt freshman Amaya Lee came in to run for Harrell at first. Lee then advanced to second on a wild pitch and then took third on a single to right from Chelemen. Lee later scored on another wild pitch to give Marshall a two-run lead, 9-7.
The Hilltoppers battled in the bottom of the seventh with one run crossing the plate on a double and then a two-run home run from Maddie Bowlds for the walk-off win.
Marshall had 10 hits and drew seven walks. It was the ninth game this season that the Herd has hits at least three home runs.
Chelemen had three hits and scored two runs. Pye drove in five runs off her two bombs. Stevenson had two hits and three RBI. Fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker had a base hit in the second inning. She is on a four-game hitting streak but has reached base safely in 19-straight contests. Whitaker's streak is tied for the longest of the season by a Herd batter. Stevenson reached base safely in 19-straight games from March 3-April 8. Whitaker's streak began on March 11 versus Norfolk State.
Sophomore Autumn Owen had one hit and a walk. Love drew two walks.
Sophomore Brianna McCown had the start in the circle and pitched four innings. She allowed four hits, five runs, three earned and had two strikeouts. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester entered the game to begin the fifth inning. She finished the game and took the loss. It was her first loss since March 20 at UAB.
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: Shelby NUNN (16-6)
L: Nester, Sydney (22-6)
Batting:
HR: Pye, Saige 2 ; Stevenson, Mya 1
RBI: Pye, Saige 5 ; Stevenson, Mya 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrell, Aly 1 ; Lee, Amaya 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 2 ; Pye, Saige 3 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Brown, Armani 1
Batting:
2B: Taylor SANDERS 1 ; Randi DRINNON 1
HR: Jordan RIDGE 1 ; Maddie BOWLDS 1 ; Bailey CURRY 2
RBI: Taylor SANDERS 1 ; Jordan RIDGE 1 ; Maddie BOWLDS 2 ; Bailey CURRY 2 ; TJ WEBSTER 2
SH: Jordan RIDGE 1 ; TJ WEBSTER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brylee HAGE 1 ; Taylor DAVIS 1 ; Taylor SANDERS 2 ; Jordan RIDGE 1 ; Maddie BOWLDS 1 ; Bailey CURRY 2 ; Randi DRINNON 2
SB: Brylee HAGE 1 ; Taylor DAVIS 1 ; Randi DRINNON 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballMarshall Softball Class of 2025 Graduates
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Hype and Harmony: the Team Personality Fuels Success #softball
Thursday, April 17