May 11, 2007

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - With its back against the wall, the Marshall Thundering Herd staved off elimination with a solid 1-0 victory over the Memphis Tigers Friday afternoon at the Conference USA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola. Marshall (32-25) will once again fight for its postseason life when it faces top-seeded Houston Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

Senior Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) rebounded from her tough outing Thursday, dismissing the Tigers with a complete-game shutout. Harter (14-15) scattered two hits, while striking out two batters.

Memphis' Nicki Johnson (12-14) was dealt the tough loss, allowing one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jenna Kubesch allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Despite going 0-for-3, All-Conference USA First Team catcher Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) drove in the game's only run - an RBI fielder's choice in the third inning.

Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) led all hitters, going 2-for-3. Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash./Cascade) tallied her second triple of the season, going 1-for-3.

For the second consecutive game at the C-USA Championship, the Herd cracked the scoreboard first, taking an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif./Rialto) led off the inning with a stand-up double to right-center field. She later advanced to third on Kristina Knecht's (Concord, Calif./Daytona Beach CC) 22nd sacrifice bunt of the season.

Folden then drove her in with a fielder's choice RBI, as Bertoldo slid in under Lindsay Kelso's tag for a 1-0 Marshall lead.

Harter retired the first 10 batters she faced. Leandra Hines was the first Memphis batter to reach base safely after being hit by a Harter pitch in the fourth inning. Hines later moved into scoring position with a stolen base, but her teammates left her stranded as Harter retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Memphis would later foil Harter's attempt at a no-hitter in the fifth inning when Leigh Rowan laced a one-out double over the head of Sofie in left field. However, the senior southpaw sent the next two Memphis hitters back to the dugout in order, preserving the Herd's 1-0 lead.

The Herd had a prime opportunity to extend its slim one-run lead in the sixth inning. With one out, Sofie roped a one-out triple down the right field line, but neither Guzzo nor Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif./Pomona Catholic) could drive her in.

From there, Harter held the Tigers at bay retiring the last five batters she faced to help Marshall advance to Friday's nightcap with the Houston Cougars.

Marshall 1, Memphis 0 (05/11/07 at Orlando, Fla.)
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Marshall............ 001 000 0 -  1  6  1      (36-25)
Memphis............. 000 000 0 -  0  2  0      (32-25)
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Pitchers: Marshall - Harter, Abigail. Memphis - JOHNSON, Nicki; KUBESCH, Jenna(6).
Win-HARTER, Abigail(14-15)  Loss-JOHNSON, Nicki(12-14)  T-1:34