Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
15-12, 0
Georgia Southern
17-8, 0
Complete Effort Lifts Herd Softball to Saturday Victory
3/16/2024 6:28:00 PM | Softball
Marshall goes for the series Sunday at noon
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Savannah Rice returned to the circle Saturday, earning the win for Marshall (15-12, 1-1 SBC) in a 6-1 victory over Georgia Southern (17-8, 1-1 SBC) in front of the largest crowd of the season at Dot Hicks Field.
Rice pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits in her first appearance in the circle since Feb. 25.
Aiding in her efforts was a strong defensive showing from the Herd, who played errorless softball. Camryn Michallas made a diving catch on a sacrifice bunt attempt from third base to help Rice get out of what would become a bases-loaded jam. Marshall's senior pitcher would get one of her three strikeouts later on in the 4th to end the Eagles' largest threat of the day.
Marshall also had timely hitting, with the team's first three runs coming with two outs.
Bella Gerlach doubled home Kasia Parks and Destiny Washington with two outs in the 3rd. Washington would get her own two-out double an inning later to produce runs for Coach Morgan Zerkle's team.
"We had people on base yesterday and just could not get them in," Zerkle said. "So to have the two big hits today was nice. We were much better about swinging at strikes and on time."
Rielly Lucas put the game out of reach in the 5th with a three-run home run to right, her second in as many days. The junior's fourth of the season scored Brooklyn Ulrich and pinch-runner Lydia Montague.
Freshman Kaleea Washington earned her first save of the season, pitching the final three innings in relief of Rice, allowing just one run on three hits.
UP NEXT
The Herd and Eagles will meet for the rubber game Sunday at noon from Dot Hicks Field.
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: Rice, Savannah (5-4)
L: Bailey Holland (5-3)
S: Washington, Kaleea (1)
Batting:
2B: Emma Davis 1
HR: Delanie Thames 1
RBI: Delanie Thames 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Delanie Thames 1
HBP: Jess Mazur 2 ; Dejah Mills 1
Batting:
2B: Gerlach, Bella 1 ; Michallas, Camryn 1 ; Washington, Destiny 1
HR: Lucas, Rielly 1
RBI: Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Lucas, Rielly 3 ; Washington, Destiny 1
SH: Michallas, Camryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Montague, Lydia 1 ; Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Glanz, Reagan 1 ; Parks, Kasia 1 ; Washington, Destiny 1
SB: Bickel, Sydney 1
