April 23, 2007

IRVING, Texas - Marshall Thundering Herd junior slugger Samantha Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) was rewarded for her recent offensive successes as she was named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week Monday. Rodriguez's honor is Marshall's second such weekly conference award of the season.

Rodriguez, the conference leader with 49 RBI, led the Herd (28-22, 10-11 C-USA) to its first Conference USA series sweep of the season. The junior continued her impressive offensive campaign, going 6-for-16 (.375) with four doubles, a home run and nine RBI. Her 16 doubles are the third-most single-season total in school history and is seven RBI away from becoming only the fourth player in school history to reach 100 career RBI.

The junior continues to benefit from teams choosing to intentionally walk two-time Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar). In game one at Ohio Wednesday, Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs after Folden's free passes. She later added an RBI double in game two to help Marshall to a twin bill sweep of the Bobcats.

During the Herd's 5-3 win over Memphis Saturday, Rodriguez drilled a three-RBI double after a Folden intentional walk to break open game one.

Rodriguez leads the team in conference-only games, batting .333 with eight doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI.

The Marshall Thundering Herd will take a weekend off from Conference USA competition to host the Georgetown Hoyas for a 1 p.m. (EST) doubleheader Saturday at Dot Hicks Field.