April 15, 2007

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - In a replay of Saturday's game one affair, junior Samantha Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) kick-started the Marshall offense with an early home run. However, the Thundering Herd would not falter later in the game, taking an impressive 8-3 win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Sunday to snap a season-long seven-game losing streak.

Freshman left-handed hurler Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif./Pomona Catholic) notched her second complete-game victory of the season. Jackson (2-3) allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out three batters.

Tulsa starting pitcher Julie Fennell (9-8), who held the Herd to only one hit in game two Saturday, was touched for four runs on three hits. Fennell was dealt the loss, fanning seven batters in six innings of work.

With the five-run victory, Marshall (23-22, 7-11 C-USA) remains in the hunt for the sixth and final spot in the Conference USA Championship presented by Coca-Cola. In the process, the Herd snapped its longest losing streak in the eight-year tenure of head coach Shonda Stanton. Marshall also snapped a six-game C-USA losing skid as well.

Perhaps more impressive is that the Herd's 8-3 win was its first victory on Sunday this season (1-7).

The loss snapped Tulsa's (25-23, 9-8 C-USA) three-game winning streak against the Herd.

Rodriguez finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBI. Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) went 1-for-1 with three walks, while Deanna Tourville (Rescue, Calif./Ponderosa) was responsible for the Herd's other RBI. In the process, Rodriguez dethroned Folden as the team's leader in doubles and RBI.

Like game one on Saturday, the Herd struck first with an early home run off the bat of Rodriguez - this time in the third inning. Kristina Knecht (Concord, Calif./Daytona Beach CC) ignited a two-out rally with a single to left field. A fielding error by centerfielder Vanessa Vice allowed Knecht to advance to second.

After Folden drew her third intentional walk of the weekend, Rodriguez made Tulsa pay for its gamble. The junior slugger cranked a three-run home run over the left field fence, giving the Herd a 3-0 cushion.

However, Marshall's recent run of hard-luck times continued in the home half of the third inning as Tulsa would knot the game at three apiece. Christian Timmons led off with single through the left side of the infield. Lauren Lindsay then reached on a fielder's choice after Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif./Rialto) muffed a Jackson relay throw at second.

Kelli McGlasson then plated Timmons for Tulsa's first run with an RBI single to centerfield. Two batters later, Jackie Lawrence reached on a fielder's choice. Lindsay scored on a defensive obstruction call on Folden, cutting the Marshall lead to 3-2.

Vice followed with an RBI single to left-center field, scoring the equalizer in McGlasson.

The Herd would rely once again on Rodriguez as Marshall regained a one-run lead, 4-3, in the fifth inning. After Folden drew a one-out walk, Rodriguez roped a double to left-center field, but Folden was unable to score as she was thrown out at home. But, a muffed catch by Stephanie Chomicki allowed Rodriguez to score the go-ahead run.

Marshall would add four insurance runs in the seventh inning, taking a commanding 8-3 lead. With one on and one out, Folden poked a single through the left side. Two batters later, Jackson loaded the bases with an infield single.

Bertoldo would then score on a McGlasson fielding error, extending the Herd's lead to two runs, 5-3. Tourville followed with an infield RBI single. A Lawrence wild pitch would plate Jackson for a four-run Marshall cushion.

Guzzo later scored on a throwing error by Timmons after J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) that would have loaded the bases.

The Marshall Thundering Herd will conclude its five-game road swing Wednesday when it travels to Athens, Ohio, to face former Mid-American Conference rival Ohio University (18-20). The non-conference twin bill will begin at 1 p.m. (EST). CSTV GameTracker will be available on www.HerdZone.com.

Marshall 8, Tulsa 3 (04/15/07 at Tulsa, Okla.)
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Marshall............ 003 010 4 -  8  6  2      (23-22, 7-11 C-USA)
Tulsa............... 003 000 0 -  3  7  4      (25-23, 9-8 C-USA)
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Pitchers: Marshall - Jackson, Caitlyn. Tulsa - FENNELL, Julie; LAWRENCE, Jackie(7).
Win-JACKSON, Caitlyn(2-3)  Loss-FENNELL, Julie(9-8)  T-2:11  A-143
HR MARSHALL - Rodriguez, Samantha (8).