Game 2 Box Score

Drake went 3-for-4 and knocked in four runs in game two to become Marshall's single season RBI leader.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The records continue to fall as the Marshall University softball team added two more to the win column Tuesday, sweeping the Cardinals of Ball State University on Dot Hicks Field. The Herd took game one 4-0 and made easy work of the Cardinals in game two, 9-1.

Marshall (34-11, 15-3 MAC) continued the trend of jumping on their opponents early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) was hit by a pitch and Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) reached base safely as she forced the Cardinals pitcher into an error. The duo, along with Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) used their speed to load the bases for Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.). Webb picked up two RBIs as she knocked home Jessica Williams and Davenport to give the Herd the early lead. On the next play Webb and Amanda Williams used a little magic to steal second and home and make the score 3-0 in favor of the Herd.

All was quiet with only a few scattered hits, until the bottom of the fourth. MU’s Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) led off with a double to left field and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, NV). Britt was able to score on a wild pitch by the Cardinals starting pitcher Quincy Duran, giving the Herd a comfortable 4-0 lead.

The Herd used excellent defense and another spectacular outing by hurler Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) to hold the Cardinals scoreless and take the 4-0 victory. Nielson (20-3, 9-1 MAC) scattered four hits over seven innings and picked up her seventh complete game shutout of the season. Six different MU players had a single hit in the contest.

The second contest saw the Cardinals (9-19-1, 5-9-1 MAC) come out ready to play as BSU was able to score a run off a single infield hit. Kris Burdine was hit by a pitch and Mandy Synder laid down a bunt for a base hit. The MAC’s leading hitter in conference play, Katie Shea, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. After an intentional walk the Cardinals number five hitter, Britni Clark drove fly ball to left field. Burdine was able to avoid the tag after a strong throw by Marshall’s centerfielder Amanda Williams and put the Cardinals on the board with an early 1-0 lead.

The Herd however came up with a quick answer, scoring four runs in a record setting bottom of the first inning. Davenport singled and swiped her 34th base of the season to tie Marshall’s single season stolen base record. Amanda Williams reached base and the Herd’s starting pitcher De’Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) doubled to pick up her 44th and 45th RBIs of the season and tie that record for MU. Webb then followed the trend with another double, scoring Drake. Marshall’s Noelle Adams (Wheeling, W.Va.) came in to run for Webb and moved to second on a solid base knock by Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.). Britt then came to the plate to collect an RBI as she knocked a deep fly ball to left field that brought home Adams and put the Herd up 4-1.

The offensive attack by the Herd fell silent until the fourth inning. After an MU out, Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) drew a walk moved around the bases on a pair of bunt singles by Jessica Williams and Davenport. Amanda Williams picked up her 37th RBI of the season with a ground out to second base that moved the MU runners. Drake then singled to knock in two more Marshall runs and take sole possession of the Herd’s single season RBI record. After four innings Marshall held a comfortable 7-1 lead.

Spenia and Kacenga knocked back-to-back singles in the fifth, but were left stranded. The Herd, however wouldn’t leave any runners stranded in the sixth as it scored two runs on three hits and ended the game with an eight run lead due to the mercy rule. Davenport singled and Amanda Williams drilled a double to left center field and score the Herd’s first run of the inning. Drake singled to center and Webb knocked home Amanda Williams to end the game with the score 9-1.

The Herd played excellent defense again in game two turning two double plays, including an impressive diving catch by Jessica Williams that led to two. The Herd pounded out 12 hits as eight of Marshall’s nine starters got in on the action. Davenport went 3-for-4 and scored four runs in the contest. Drake had three hits and knocked in four runs to help her cause as she improved her record to 7-2 on the mound. Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) came in to send the Cardinals down 1-2-3 in the fifth.

The Herd squad needs only five more victories to become the winningest program in the history of the school. Marshall will travel to DeKalb, IL this weekend to take on Northern Illinois University (16-14, 6-3 MAC) in a three-game series. The Herd will face off against the MAC West’s number three team in a doubleheader on Friday, April 18th and will play the Huskies in a single game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.