April 13, 2008

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A six-run first inning culminated by a Samantha Rodriguez two-run homer guided Marshall to a mercy rule victory over the UAB Blazers, 11-0, in Sunday afternoon's Conference USA game at Dot Hicks Field.

"I'm very proud of the way the team came out and responded after splitting yesterday's games," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "We were producing in all three categories of the game; fielding, hitting and pitching. Our hitters made adjustments at the plates and our fielders didn't commit any errors, while Jackson was terrific inside the circle for us."

After splitting Saturday's doubleheaders, the Herd ( 19-25, 8-8 C-USA) claimed the series with a 10-hit performance in five innings, while limiting the Blazers ( 23-27, 8-9) to three. Marshall got the bulk of its runs in the first and four innings.

Sophomore ace Caitlyn Jackson (9-14) was credited with the shutout after going five innings and allowing three hits and striking out one. UAB's Jennifer Nelson (13-18) picked up the loss after going three innings and giving up eight runs. Kayla Harris finished the game for the Blazer's and allowed three runs in one inning of relief.

In the first inning, senior catcher Rachel Folden drew a lead off walk. Teammate Samantha Rodriguez smashed the 2-0 pitch from the Blazer's Nelson to left field, giving the Herd a 2-0 lead.

Marshall continued the scoring when the next batter, Jackson, earned a walk and stole second base placing her in scoring position. A Rachael Sofie single through the right side scored Jackson, increasing the winning margin to three.

Junior shortstop Kelly Nielson was a hit by a pitch for a seventh time this season. With two on, designated player Rachel Schmidt reached on an error by the Blazer's shortstop Kayla Orr, loading the bases for Marcena Bertoldo. The Herd's third baseman capitalized on the opportunity when she delivered a two-run RBI single to left field.

With a 5-0 advantage, Tourville dribbled a bunt between UAB's pitcher and catcher creating a play at the plate for Schmidt, who beat the throw scoring the Herd's sixth run of the inning.

In the third inning, Folden cracked a shot that hit the middle of the wooden fence in left center field resulting in her first career triple. The Baldwin Park, Calif., native scored on the next play after a Nelson pitch got away from UAB's catcher, Andrea Rogers.

One run away from enforcing the eight-run rule, the Herd scored four times in the fourth inning to seal the victory. Jackson started the inning with a single to left field. The Blazers decided to go to its bullpen and brought in Harris to finish the game. Sofie tripled off the new reliever, when she lined a shot off the wall in right field, scoring Jackson.

Pinch hitter Erin DeStefano, making her second-career plate appearance, earned a walk, putting runners on the corner. After a Herd's fielder's choice by Schmidt, Sofie scored from third. Bertoldo was hit by a pitch moving Schmidt to second. Tourville hit to shallow left center to score Schmidt. Bertoldo rounded out Marshall's scoring on another Harris wild pitch.

Marshall's Stanton now has 299 career victories and will look to earn No. 300 when the Herd takes a midweek break from conference play for a doubleheader showdown with Morehead State, Tuesday, April 15 beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).

Marshall University 11, UAB 0 (Apr 13, 2008 at Huntington, W.Va.)
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UAB................. 000 00 -  0  3  1      (23-27, 9-9)
Marshall University. 601 4X - 11 10  0      (19-25, 8-8)
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Pitchers: UAB - ALLEN, A.; NELSON, J.(1); HARRIS, K.(4). Marshall University - Jackson, Caitlyn
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Win-JACKSON, Caitlyn(9-14)  Loss-NELSON, J.(13-18)  T-1:38  A-135
HR MARSHALL - Rodriguez, Samantha.
Weather: Cloudy
NELSON, J. faced 1 batter in the 4th.