Game 2

Sophomore Sarah Chamberlain picked up the save on the mound and belted a home run to help lead Marshall to a game two victory.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University softball team (14-20) split two Mid-American Conference contests with Miami University (12-28, 4-8 MAC) on Wednesday at Dot Hicks Field. The RedHawks of Miami took the first game 2-0, but the Thundering Herd came back to earn the split winning the night cap, 3-2. Marshall will remain in third place in the MAC East with a 7-5 record in league play.

“I was pleased with how we responded to come back and get the win in the second game.” head coach Shonda Stanton said. “We need to have a couple of good practices and work on some things to get ready to play two complete games against Akron.”

Miami got things cranked up in the early going, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter, Kari Brisnehan singled, moved around the bases and came in to score on a sacrifice fly to put the RedHawks up 1-0.

The game remained a nail biter throughout as the Herd threatened, but couldn’t get anything going offensively. Miami added to their run total in the top of the seventh when Jamie Carey hit a home run to make the final 2-0 in favor of the RedHawks.

Marshall’s De’Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) doubled to lead her team at the plate. The Herd had only five hits in the contest.

The RedHawks started off the second game in similar fashion. A bunt single, a walk and a bloop down the right field line allowed Miami to put a run on the board in the top of the first.

This time the Herd had a quick answer. Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) singled to centerfield, stole second and then third base. She was able to score on an error by the RedHawks, tying the game at one after the first inning.

Marshall’s Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) started off the second inning with a bomb over the fence in left field. The home run, Chamberlain’s third of the season, put Marshall up 2-1 after two innings.

The game was quiet until Miami’s Jamie Carey singled to start off the fourth inning, then moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. She then took third on a passed ball and came in to score on another RedHawk sacrifice fly to knot the game at two.

Senior Carrie Dean (Paradise, Calif.) came up with another big hit for the Herd as she belted a home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth. The two big hits would remain the difference, as the Herd escaped with a 3-2 victory over the RedHawks.

Freshman hurler Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) got the win for the Herd. Chamberlain struck out the final two batters of the game to earn a save on the mound to go along with her towering home run.

Marshall will travel to Akron, Ohio to take on the Zips in a Mid-American Conference double-header at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.