Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
14-3
Kent State
4-12
Herd Softball Off to Best Start in Program History After Victory Saturday
3/4/2023 8:40:00 PM | Softball
Nester strikes out a season-high 13 in Herd’s win.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — In the 30-year history of the Marshall softball program, never before has the Thundering Herd won 14 of its first 17 to open the season.
Head Coach Megan Smith Lyon's team did just that on Saturday with an 8-1 victory over Kent State at Dot Hicks Field.
Senior pitcher Sydney Nester struck out a season-high 14 in a complete seven innings of work. Nester is the Sun Belt's leader with 95 strikeouts and nine wins. Both values are tied for first in the country.
Offensively, Autumn Owen is in the national spotlight as well, with her 10 home runs, tied for the lead the NCAA. Owen's 1st inning blast capped off a three-run frame to give Marshall the early lead.
The junior's .510 batting average leads the league as well.
The production in the ladder part of the lineup provided a spark for MU Saturday as Grace Chelemen and Camryn Michallas were a combined 3-4 with three runs batted in.
Chelemen's RBI triple scored Rielly Lucas and Bub Feringa, before Michallas squeezed in Chelemen to complete the three-run rally in the 3rd.
Nester struck out the final two Golden Flashes in the 7th to seal the seven-run victory for Coach Megan Smith Lyon's side.
UP NEXT
Marshall battles Kent State again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. before facing the ACC's Pitt Panthers at 3:00 p.m. from Dot Hicks Field.
Sunday will be the first Little Sister Game – The young ladies who are members of our Little Sister program will be honored.
Sunday is also Fun Run Sunday- On Sunday's, fans 12 and under will have a chance to run the bases after the game!
For all the latest information about Marshall softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nester, Sydney (9-2)
L: BOWERS (1-4)
Batting:
RBI: LIBLER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MAZANEC 1
SB: MAZANEC 1
CS: PENNER 1
Batting:
2B: Feringa, Bub 1 ; Michallas, Camryn 1
3B: Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Godfrey, Bri 1
HR: Owen, Autumn 1
RBI: Bickel, Sydney 1 ; Owen, Autumn 3 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 2 ; Michallas, Camryn 1
SH: Michallas, Camryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coleman, Alex 1 ; Bickel, Sydney 1 ; Owen, Autumn 2 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Godfrey, Bri 1
SB: Coleman, Alex 1 ; Bickel, Sydney 1
