Marshall University Athletics
Friday, May 13
Denton, Texas
3:30 PM ET/2:30 PM CT
Marshall University
35-18
5
vs
9
#3 seed WKU
37-12
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6
7
R
H
E
Marshall
0
0
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5
10
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WKU
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X
9
9
2
Grace Chelemen on her way home after a solo home run in the third.
Photo by: Conference USA
Softball Season Comes to a Close in Semifinals
5/13/2022 10:16:00 PM | Softball
Herd sets C-USA Tournament record with 11 home runs
Box Score (PDF)
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DENTON, Texas – The No. 4 seed Marshall softball team kept fighting through the final out, but saw its 2022 season end on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament at Lovelace Stadium. The Marshall bats went out with a bang, smashing the C-USA Tournament record with 11 home runs.
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The Thundering Herd ends the season with a 35-18 record.
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Despite falling behind 8-0 after the second inning, Marshall continued to fight giving everything they had.
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Senior Grace Chelemen belted her first home run of the season in the top of the third with a big blast out to right-center. The solo shot took the shutout off the board. It was Chelemen's fourth career home run and she is the 10th different batter to hit one out of the park for Marshall this season.
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Sophomore Brianna McCown entered the circle in the second and carried the Herd through the rest of the game. Marshall blanked WKU on the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the third. A line-out to Chelemen in center ended the inning and stranded two runners on base.
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Senior Mya Stevenson led off the fourth with a base hit to right and then trotted home two batters later as freshman Lauren Love lifted a shot out to left-center. The two-run homer was Love's fifth of the season and second of the tournament. It was also Marshall's 11th and final home run of the tournament, and cut the Herd's deficit to five, 8-3.
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McCown struck out two in the bottom of the fourth as part of 1-2-3 inning. The right-hander recorded her fifth strikeout of the game in the fifth as Marshall again held the Hilltoppers off the scoreboard.
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The Herd scored two more runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Autumn Owen led off the inning with a single to right, her second hit of the game. Two batters later, fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker was on base and Owen was at third. Fifth-year senior Katie Adams got on board from an error at shortstop that allowed Owen to score. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell was later walked to load the bases. Chelemen then legged out an infield single as Whitaker scored. Marshall now trailed by three, 8-5.
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The Hilltoppers scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth. McCown ended the inning with her sixth strikeout of the day. The Herd went out swinging in the top of the seventh, still fighting.
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McCown pitched 4.2 innings of relief allowing just three hits, one run and six strikeouts. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester had the start and was pulled in the second. On her way off the field, as she was receiving hugs from her teammates, the 2022 C-USA Pitcher of the Year also received a standing ovation from all of the fans in attendance showing respect to an incredible pitcher.
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Marshall had 10 hits, the 19th time this season in double-figures. Chelemen led the team with three hits including her solo homer in the third. Owen collected two hits and one walk. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye, Harrell, Stevenson, Love and Adams all had one hit each. Love and Chelemen had two RBI each.
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The Herd's record shattering 11 home runs across four games smashed the old record of six by WKU in 2021. Marshall hit four against Florida Atlantic in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday. Harrell had two home runs with Love and Owen hitting the other two. The Herd added two more homers against Louisiana Tech as Harrell went deep for the third time and Pye had one. Marshall belted three more in the comeback win over Charlotte as the triplets – Harrell, Pye and Stevenson – had one each. Stevenson's was the 59th of her career to set the Marshall all-time program record and tied the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the seventh. The Herd then capped the tournament off with two more versus WKU with Chelemen and Love going deep. Harrell led the team with four bombs.
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Marshall's four homers against Florida Atlantic also tied the league record for most in a tournament game.
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With just the championship game remaining between No. 2 seed North Texas and No. 3 seed WKU, the Hilltoppers have six home runs and the Mean Green have hit five.
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Even with the loss in the tournament, Marshall had another great season under head coach Megan Smith Lyon. Finally getting to play a somewhat full schedule – ten games missed due to weather – the Herd tallied 35 wins. The squad finished with a .321 batting average, good for the second-highest in team history. Marshall set a single-season record for slugging percentage (.554), on base percentage (.412) and doubles (89). The Herd scored its second-most runs in a season with 325 and finished with its second-best home run total with 75. In the only two full seasons under coach Smith Lyon, taking away the 2020 COVID season and 2021 that saw many games cancelled due to COVID, Marshall has smashed more than 70 homers and 80 doubles in each year.
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Pye (20), Stevenson (19) and Harrell (13) became the first trio in program history with 10 or more home runs in the same season. Pye tied the single-season mark that was set by Stevenson in 2019, and Stevenson finished with the second-best total for a year. Harrell went on a tear to end the season hitting six home runs over the final nine games. Pye and Stevenson also became the first pair of teammates with 50 or more RBI in the same season in team history. Stevenson led the team with 55 and Pye had 51.
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In the circle, Nester was on fire throughout the year. She tied the record for the most double-digit strikeout games with 12 and tied for the second-most shutouts in a season with 11. Nester tallied the third-most strikeouts in a season with 294 and put up the highest strikeouts per seven innings in team history at 9.02. Her 26 wins is the fifth-best in a season in Herd history.
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The pitching staff came up with big outs and key strikeouts at many moments.
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The defense provided highlights throughout the year with diving catches, double plays and great throws. And of course the offense displayed plenty of fireworks in 2022 setting team records for runs and hits in an inning, hits in a game, and gave the fans plenty of great moments to cheer.
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Coach Smith Lyon tallied her 100th win at Marshall on April 1, with an 11-4 win over Charlotte. She was the fastest in team history to 50 wins as well as 100. She also earned her 500th collegiate coaching victory on April 15 with a 3-2 win over FIU.
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Some career achievements were reached as well in 2022. Stevenson became the new Herd softball home run queen with now 59. Pye holds a slight advantage over Stevenson for career slugging percentage as Pye finishes her Herd career at .777 and Stevenson is at .771.
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Harrell caps off her Marshall career ranking in the top 10 in 18 different offensive and defensive categories. She leaves the Herd as the all-time leader in career walks with 175 and on base percentage at an amazing .562. During the tournament, Harrell became the third member of the 50 Home Run Club, the third player in team history to reach base in 200 games and the second to drive in a run in 100 contests. She is tied for second all-time with 171 RBI and is third in home runs (53), doubles (47) and putouts (1,262).
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Adams played in 175 games during her time with the Green & White getting to stay and suit up in her home state. The Hurricane, W.Va., native finishes with 119 career hits and 87 RBI. Her 118th hit and 88th RBI were the biggest of her career with the walk-off in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate Charlotte on Thursday. She also ranks in the top 20 in team history with 31 doubles.
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Fifth-year senior Armani Brown played in 174 games and the smooth defender tallied 239 assists playing second and short. The Elk Grove, California, native recorded 115 hits and scored 75 runs. She set career-highs this season with three RBI in two games. Brown made many great plays in the middle infield throughout her career, and made some look easy.
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In just three short seasons, Pye left her mark on the Marshall softball program. She played in 103 games and reached base in 91. Pye blasted 34 home runs in her Herd career good for fifth all-time. During the tournament Pye became the 14th member of the Marshall 100 RBI Club and finished with 102. She collected 130 hits, bat .398 (fourth at MU) and scored 74 runs.
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Whitaker put together her best season for her last one. The New Palestine, Indiana, native bat .337 this season as she battled early season injuries to get back into the lineup. Whitaker tallied 31 hits and had a clutch single in the bottom of the seventh against Charlotte to push Love to third base. She bat .364 during the tournament. Whitaker played in 65 games with Marshall with 40 hits, 11 doubles and two home runs after spending three years at Wright State.
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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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DENTON, Texas – The No. 4 seed Marshall softball team kept fighting through the final out, but saw its 2022 season end on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament at Lovelace Stadium. The Marshall bats went out with a bang, smashing the C-USA Tournament record with 11 home runs.
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The Thundering Herd ends the season with a 35-18 record.
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Despite falling behind 8-0 after the second inning, Marshall continued to fight giving everything they had.
Â
Senior Grace Chelemen belted her first home run of the season in the top of the third with a big blast out to right-center. The solo shot took the shutout off the board. It was Chelemen's fourth career home run and she is the 10th different batter to hit one out of the park for Marshall this season.
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Sophomore Brianna McCown entered the circle in the second and carried the Herd through the rest of the game. Marshall blanked WKU on the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the third. A line-out to Chelemen in center ended the inning and stranded two runners on base.
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Senior Mya Stevenson led off the fourth with a base hit to right and then trotted home two batters later as freshman Lauren Love lifted a shot out to left-center. The two-run homer was Love's fifth of the season and second of the tournament. It was also Marshall's 11th and final home run of the tournament, and cut the Herd's deficit to five, 8-3.
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McCown struck out two in the bottom of the fourth as part of 1-2-3 inning. The right-hander recorded her fifth strikeout of the game in the fifth as Marshall again held the Hilltoppers off the scoreboard.
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The Herd scored two more runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Autumn Owen led off the inning with a single to right, her second hit of the game. Two batters later, fifth-year senior Madison Whitaker was on base and Owen was at third. Fifth-year senior Katie Adams got on board from an error at shortstop that allowed Owen to score. Fifth-year senior Aly Harrell was later walked to load the bases. Chelemen then legged out an infield single as Whitaker scored. Marshall now trailed by three, 8-5.
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The Hilltoppers scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth. McCown ended the inning with her sixth strikeout of the day. The Herd went out swinging in the top of the seventh, still fighting.
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McCown pitched 4.2 innings of relief allowing just three hits, one run and six strikeouts. Redshirt junior Sydney Nester had the start and was pulled in the second. On her way off the field, as she was receiving hugs from her teammates, the 2022 C-USA Pitcher of the Year also received a standing ovation from all of the fans in attendance showing respect to an incredible pitcher.
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Marshall had 10 hits, the 19th time this season in double-figures. Chelemen led the team with three hits including her solo homer in the third. Owen collected two hits and one walk. Fifth-year senior Saige Pye, Harrell, Stevenson, Love and Adams all had one hit each. Love and Chelemen had two RBI each.
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The Herd's record shattering 11 home runs across four games smashed the old record of six by WKU in 2021. Marshall hit four against Florida Atlantic in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday. Harrell had two home runs with Love and Owen hitting the other two. The Herd added two more homers against Louisiana Tech as Harrell went deep for the third time and Pye had one. Marshall belted three more in the comeback win over Charlotte as the triplets – Harrell, Pye and Stevenson – had one each. Stevenson's was the 59th of her career to set the Marshall all-time program record and tied the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the seventh. The Herd then capped the tournament off with two more versus WKU with Chelemen and Love going deep. Harrell led the team with four bombs.
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Marshall's four homers against Florida Atlantic also tied the league record for most in a tournament game.
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With just the championship game remaining between No. 2 seed North Texas and No. 3 seed WKU, the Hilltoppers have six home runs and the Mean Green have hit five.
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Even with the loss in the tournament, Marshall had another great season under head coach Megan Smith Lyon. Finally getting to play a somewhat full schedule – ten games missed due to weather – the Herd tallied 35 wins. The squad finished with a .321 batting average, good for the second-highest in team history. Marshall set a single-season record for slugging percentage (.554), on base percentage (.412) and doubles (89). The Herd scored its second-most runs in a season with 325 and finished with its second-best home run total with 75. In the only two full seasons under coach Smith Lyon, taking away the 2020 COVID season and 2021 that saw many games cancelled due to COVID, Marshall has smashed more than 70 homers and 80 doubles in each year.
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Pye (20), Stevenson (19) and Harrell (13) became the first trio in program history with 10 or more home runs in the same season. Pye tied the single-season mark that was set by Stevenson in 2019, and Stevenson finished with the second-best total for a year. Harrell went on a tear to end the season hitting six home runs over the final nine games. Pye and Stevenson also became the first pair of teammates with 50 or more RBI in the same season in team history. Stevenson led the team with 55 and Pye had 51.
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In the circle, Nester was on fire throughout the year. She tied the record for the most double-digit strikeout games with 12 and tied for the second-most shutouts in a season with 11. Nester tallied the third-most strikeouts in a season with 294 and put up the highest strikeouts per seven innings in team history at 9.02. Her 26 wins is the fifth-best in a season in Herd history.
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The pitching staff came up with big outs and key strikeouts at many moments.
Â
The defense provided highlights throughout the year with diving catches, double plays and great throws. And of course the offense displayed plenty of fireworks in 2022 setting team records for runs and hits in an inning, hits in a game, and gave the fans plenty of great moments to cheer.
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Coach Smith Lyon tallied her 100th win at Marshall on April 1, with an 11-4 win over Charlotte. She was the fastest in team history to 50 wins as well as 100. She also earned her 500th collegiate coaching victory on April 15 with a 3-2 win over FIU.
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Some career achievements were reached as well in 2022. Stevenson became the new Herd softball home run queen with now 59. Pye holds a slight advantage over Stevenson for career slugging percentage as Pye finishes her Herd career at .777 and Stevenson is at .771.
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Harrell caps off her Marshall career ranking in the top 10 in 18 different offensive and defensive categories. She leaves the Herd as the all-time leader in career walks with 175 and on base percentage at an amazing .562. During the tournament, Harrell became the third member of the 50 Home Run Club, the third player in team history to reach base in 200 games and the second to drive in a run in 100 contests. She is tied for second all-time with 171 RBI and is third in home runs (53), doubles (47) and putouts (1,262).
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Adams played in 175 games during her time with the Green & White getting to stay and suit up in her home state. The Hurricane, W.Va., native finishes with 119 career hits and 87 RBI. Her 118th hit and 88th RBI were the biggest of her career with the walk-off in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate Charlotte on Thursday. She also ranks in the top 20 in team history with 31 doubles.
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Fifth-year senior Armani Brown played in 174 games and the smooth defender tallied 239 assists playing second and short. The Elk Grove, California, native recorded 115 hits and scored 75 runs. She set career-highs this season with three RBI in two games. Brown made many great plays in the middle infield throughout her career, and made some look easy.
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In just three short seasons, Pye left her mark on the Marshall softball program. She played in 103 games and reached base in 91. Pye blasted 34 home runs in her Herd career good for fifth all-time. During the tournament Pye became the 14th member of the Marshall 100 RBI Club and finished with 102. She collected 130 hits, bat .398 (fourth at MU) and scored 74 runs.
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Whitaker put together her best season for her last one. The New Palestine, Indiana, native bat .337 this season as she battled early season injuries to get back into the lineup. Whitaker tallied 31 hits and had a clutch single in the bottom of the seventh against Charlotte to push Love to third base. She bat .364 during the tournament. Whitaker played in 65 games with Marshall with 40 hits, 11 doubles and two home runs after spending three years at Wright State.
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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: Shelby NUNN (22-6)
L: Nester, Sydney (26-11)
Batting:
HR: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Love, Lauren 1
RBI: Chelemen, Grace 2 ; Love, Lauren 2 ; Adams, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Owen, Autumn 1 ; Love, Lauren 1 ; Whitaker, Madison 1
SB: Chelemen, Grace 1
Batting:
2B: Jordan RIDGE 1
HR: Bailey CURRY 1
RBI: Jordan RIDGE 3 ; Randi DRINNON 1 ; Bailey CURRY 3
SH: Jordan RIDGE 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brylee HAGE 2 ; Taylor DAVIS 2 ; Maddie BOWLDS 1 ; Jordan RIDGE 2 ; Randi DRINNON 1 ; Bailey CURRY 1
SB: Brylee HAGE 4 ; Taylor DAVIS 1 ; Jordan RIDGE 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
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