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Marshall Soars Past Golden Eagles, 5-2, Claim Series, 2-1
April 20, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team used nine hits to out-score the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 5-2 in Sunday's Conference USA three-game series finale at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. Sophomore ace Caitlyn Jackson (11-15) was credited with the win after going four innings for the Herd. The Ontario, Calif., native limited the Golden Eagles (23-24, 7-11 C-USA) to five hits, while striking out one. Junior Autumn Mitchell (S, 2) came in for relief in the fifth and finished the contest for the Herd (23-26, 10-9). Mitchell went three innings surrendering no runs and no hits with four strikeouts. Southern Miss' Samantha Davis (13-8) picked up the complete-game loss after going seven innings allowing five runs "Today it was about offensive execution and we did just that," Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. "We had another great outing from our pitching staff, and now all we need to do now is become more crisp defensively." The Golden Eagle's struck first in the opening frame from a Jennifer Fox RBI single. Leadoff hitter Megan Hill was hit by a pitch to open the first inning. After a fielder's choice and batter interference, Logan James drew a two-out walk to place runners on first and second for Fox. The Southern Miss' third baseman lined a single just beyond the glove of a diving Herd third baseman, Marcena Bertoldo. Marshall answered in the second and third innings with a run apiece in both frames. Freshman first baseman Melanie Stoehr hit a blooper to shallow center field to record the Herd's first hit of the game in the second. Following a Kelly Nielson ground out, which advanced Stoehr to second, junior designated player Rachel Schmidt hit a RBI single to right field, scoring Stoehr.
In the third, senior All-American Rachel Folden registered her 16th home run of the season when she blasted a shot to right field. She now has 57 career home runs, which places her tied for 20th on the NCAA all-time home run list. Leading 2-1, the Golden Eagles got revenge when Hill singled up the middle to start the bottom of the third inning. A sacrifice bunt from shortstop Kristin Chaney advanced Hill to second, which preceded a Kristin Pilgrim RBI single to center field. After flying out to right field in her first two at-bats, senior right fielder Samantha Rodriguez found the gap in right center resulting in an RBI double. The Herd regained the lead in the fifth inning after Folden earned a two-walk. Rodriguez continued the two-out rally when she lined her ninth double of the season. The Herd extended its lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh to secure the victory. Schmidt recorded her second single of the game and moved to second on the Joscelyn Bitner sacrifice bunt. Senior second baseman Deanna Tourville drilled a RBI double to left field to score Schmidt from second. With Tourville on second, Rodriguez earned her second RBI of the game, a shallow drop to right field. The Herd returns home for its final conference series of the season, beginning Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The Thundering Herd seniors will be recognized during Sunday's finale at noon (ET). Marshall University 5, Southern Miss 2 (Apr 20, 2008 at Hattiesburg, Miss.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Marshall University. 011 010 2 - 5 9 3 (23-26, 10-9) Southern Miss....... 101 000 0 - 2 5 1 (23-24, 7-11) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Marshall University - Jackson, Caitlyn; MITCHELL, Autumn(5). Southern Miss - DAVIS, S . Win-JACKSON, Caitlyn(11-15) Save-MITCHELL, Autumn(2) Loss-DAVIS, S(13-8) T-1:58 A-390 HR MARSHALL - Folden, Rachel (16). Weather: Sunny, Clear |
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