Feb. 19, 2007

IRVING, Texas - Junior catcher Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar), the 2007 Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year, has been named the C-USA Hitter of the Week, as released by the conference office Monday.

Folden went 10-for-18 (.556) with one home run and five RBI during the weekend for the Thundering Herd (4-6) at the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, Fla. Friday, the USA Softball National Player of the Year Candidate delivered the game-winning, bases-loaded RBI single to give Marshall a thrilling 6-5 upset win over No. 24 N.C. State.

"Rachel has been so clutch for us these past two weekends," Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton said. "She is very deserving of this award.

"The great thing about her is that she would trade a personal honor such as this for a win any day. She is such a team player."

She later added to her season home run total with her fourth round-tripper of 2007 in a loss to Chattanooga. Folden would later add two more two-hit games, including a 2-for-4 showing against No. 19 Florida Sunday morning. Folden extended her hitting streak to eight games, while adding to her team-leading doubles (5), home runs (4) and RBI (15) total.

The Marshall Thundering Herd returns to action this weekend when it travels to Charlotte, N.C., to participate at the First Pitch Classic Feb. 23-25.