Huntington, W.Va. -- Despite miscommunication that forced Liberty and Marshall University to play its non-conference doubleheader one day early, the Thundering Herd blanked the Flames, 5-0 and 6-0, in college softball action from Dot Hicks Field Tuesday.

"I am proud of how the girls responded today," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "Our team could have come out lackadaisical and without focus, but we did not let that happen. We jumped on them early and did not look back"

Marshall jumped on the Flames in the first inning of the opener. The Herd grabbed a two-run lead in the first inning of the opener on Vanessa ClarksonÕs two-run double. Clarkson (Jr./Moreno Valley, CA), who added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, went 2-for-3 with three RBI. The third basemen has collected 29 RBI this season, third most in single-season school history and tied Jeanne Noble for most in a Marshall career (59). Clarkson also extended her consecutive games with a hit to 11.

Nichole Corrigan (Jr./Corona, CA) and Carrie Dean (Jr./Auburn, CA) each posted multi-hit games for Marshall. Corrigan went 2-for-4. Dean was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Herd two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to finish the scoring.

Sierra Davenport (Fr./Tucson, AZ) tossed her second consecutive and fifth complete-game shutout of the season. The right-handed hurler (14-9) limited the Flames to just three hits and was only able to advance one runner past second base. Davenport struck-out one and walked one. With the win, Davenport tied Missy Frost for fourth most wins in a single-season.

Marshall followed the same equation in the nightcap. The Herd exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and cruised past Liberty. Kimmie Nickell (Jr./Victor, WV) did the most damage. The designated player delivered a three-run double into the right centerfield gap to put the Herd on top. Nickell went 2-for-3 with the three RBI and a run scored. Dean, Davenport, Kelli Hall (Jr./Huntington, WV) and Jenny Ryther (Sr./Westerville, OH) all added two or more hits.

Sara Gulla (Sr./Garden Grove, CA) also tossed her second straight complete-game shutout. The Herd pitching staff has not yielded a single run in 28 consecutive innings and only allowed two earned runs in its last six games. Gulla (17-12) struck-out 14 and walked just one. The 14-strikeout performance gives the left-hander 693 for her career and 236 for the season. Gulla is now tied with Linda Padgett (CMU, 1982) for the third most strikeouts in single-season MAC history. Gulla also tied Christy Waring for second in school history with 17 victories in one season.

"Our pitchers are peaking at just the right time," said Stanton. "It makes the entire team more relaxed and confident. It really makes it much easier to play behind such dominant pitching."

Marshall returns to action this weekend with a critical MAC three-game series with Buffalo. The Herd open the series with a doubleheader scheduled for 6 p.m. Marshall and the Bulls will conclude the series with a 1 p.m. start Saturday afternoon. The games mark the first meeting between the schools.