April 17, 2006

HUNTINGTON - The Marshall Thundering Herd continues its current eight-game home stand Tuesday when it hosts former Mid-American Conference rival Ohio University for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Dot Hicks Field.

Saturday, the Herd (25-20, 11-7 C-USA) was able to escape a potential Conference USA sweep by Houston, knocking off the Cougars 5-1 in the series finale. Before losing both ends of a C-USA twin bill Friday, the Herd owned an eight-game home winning streak, as well as a 6-0 home mark against conference competition.

Conference USA Player of the Year candidate Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) paces the Herd with a team-best .368 clip, 16 home runs and 47 RBI.

The Herd, which is 6-6 in its last 12 games, has benefited from the offensive resurgence of Ashley Mitchell (Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison), Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison) and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga./Harrison).

Mitchell, currently on an 11-game hitting streak, is second on the team with a .367 batting average and fourth with 40 hits. Amanda Williams had her 12-game hitting streak snapped last weekend, but regained the team hits lead with 52. Williams is batting .386 with 17 hits, seven doubles, three home runs and six RBI in the last 12 games.

In her last 12 games, Jessica Williams leads the team with a .417 batting average. Williams is currently in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak.

Ohio (22-24, 6-6 MAC) has split its last six games - all at home. The Bobcats, which are 19-21 away from Athens, are paced offensively by Debbie Szalejko, who leads the team in runs scored (28), hits (40), doubles (8), triples (4) and stolen bases (10).

Michelle Sauter is Ohio's top pitcher, sporting an 11-9 record with a 1.44 earned run average in 141 innings.

Ohio holds a 19-18 all-time edge in the series, while the Herd has won the last two meetings. Last season, the Herd dropped the first game of a three-game set before winning the last two games. The Herd has split the last 14 games with the Bobcats.

Following its midweek non-conference tilt with Ohio University, the Marshall Thundering Herd returns to action this weekend, hosting the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for the final home weekend of the season. A 1 p.m. doubleheader is slated for Saturday, followed by a 1 p.m. single game Sunday.

INTANGIBLES: Saturday is Lil' Sis Day, while Sunday will be Senior Day...The Herd will bid farewell to its seven seniors - Noelle Adams, Courtney Kacenga, Veronica Ralston, Sara Spenia, Amanda Williams, Jessica Williams and Leigh Wintter ...Ashley Mitchell and the Williams sisters are the only players to record 10 or more hits in the last 12 games...Amanda Williams' solo home run Sunday was the Herd's 41st of the season, setting a new single-season school record...Williams also tied the single-season school record with 19 doubles, which was set last season by Rachel Folden...Only three players in school history have hit 20 or more home runs and 100 or more RBI in a career - teammates Leigh Wintter (26-119), Rachel Folden (25-107) and Amanda Williams (20-136).