Softball Looks to Continue Torrid Offensive Pace as It Heads to Northern Illinois

4/16/2003

Freshman Amanda Williams boasts the 11th best batting average in the nation.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- The Marshall University softball team will head to DeKalb, IL to take on the Huskies of Northern Illinois University on Friday and Saturday. The Herd boasts the 19th best team batting average in the country as it heads into the Mid-American Conference match-up.

“It’s exciting that we are playing so well and receiving such recognition, but our goals remained concentrated on a MAC championship,” head coach Shonda Stanton said. “We must continue to play hard and remained focused.”

As the NCAA national statistical rankings were released, the Herd ranks 19th among all Division I schools in the country in batting average, hitting .296 as a team. Marshall also ranks 19th in the runs scored category, averaging 4.91 runs per game.

Several MU players rank among the top of all players in Division I. Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) has made a name for herself amongst the best players in the country. MU’s freshman slugger sports the 11th best batting average in the country (.459).

Speedster Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) will be challenging for the national stolen base crown as she currently ranks 3rd in the country, swiping 43 bases so far this season. Davenport also ranks 47th in batting average, hitting .384 on the year.

With all the run production Marshall’s RBI leader is certain to be amongst the country’s best. Senior De’Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.) is 21st in the country as she has broken the Herd’s single season record by knocking in 45 runs on the season.

Amongst all of the offensive honors, the Herd’s ace hurler is not to be forgotten. Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) has earned 20 wins on the season to place her 12th on the national list.

“It is great to see kids who really deserve it receive this kind of national recognition,” head coach Shonda Stanton said.

The Huskies (16-14, 6-3 MAC) are not to be taken lightly as they are currently the only team out hitting the Herd in conference play. Northern Illinois stands in third place in the MAC West, just behind Western Michigan University and traditional power Central Michigan University. NIU’s Kathy Dearborn was 15th in the MAC coming into the week hitting .338.

Marshall will make the trip to DeKalb on Thursday and will take on the Huskies in a twilight doubleheader on Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m. The teams will wrap up the series on Saturday in a single game at 1:00 p.m.