Box Score

Sierra Davenport collected four hits on the day for the Herd.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.--The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team cranked out 12 hits in an 11-0, five-inning defeat of the visiting Highlanders from Radford University. The Herd played Jekyll and Hyde in game two falling by the score of 2-1.

Marshall took a commanding lead, pounding out 11 runs in the first three innings of game one. Nine different MU hitters got in on the action. Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) went 3-for-3 and Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) went 2-for-2 with three RBIs to lead the Herd. De'Shaun Drake (Spring Valley, Calif.), Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.), Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) and Karri Britt (Huntington, W.Va.) all came through with big RBI doubles in Marshall's offensive onslaught.

Herd pitchers Randi Nielson and Sierra Davenport kept the Highlander (11-33) pitchers in check in game one. Nielson pitched two and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball, while Davenport tossed two and one-third innings no-hit innings to get the victory. Davenport improves to 3-1 on the season.

Marshall (37-13) couldn't get the bats going in game two of the doubleheader. The Herd scattered only three hits in the first six innings of play. Four uncharacteristic errors helped the Herd find themselves down 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh.

After the first MU out, senior Karri Britt stepped up to blast a double to left center field, giving the Herd some life. Sara Spenia, (Las Vegas, NV) a freshman, followed Britt's lead with a hit of her own to score Sarah Wilson (Parkersburg, W.Va.) who came in to run for Britt. The Herd rally was killed however, as MU's next batter hit a fly ball and the runner from second was cut down trying to take third base on the tag.

Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.) gave up only three hits in five innings of work, starting the game on the mound for Marshall. Drake came in to receive the loss, giving up four hits in two innings of work.

Marshall will return its focus to Mid-American Conference play as the Herd will take on the Bobcats of Ohio University in a three game series beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Herd will have a chance to clinch the outright MAC Championship this weekend with a sweep of the Bobcats on Dot Hicks Field.