Huntington, W.Va. - Marshall University senior pitcher Sara Gulla tossed her fourth consecutive shutout and the Herd benefited from five Buffalo errors to earn its eighth straight victory, 8-0, in five innings in Mid-American Conference softball action from Dot Hicks Field Saturday.

"This was a great day for our entire team, especially the two seniors," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "We did benefit from their mistakes, but we also came up with some key hits. We really need this win. It puts us in a good position with just one weekend left to play."

Gulla (Sr./Garden Grove, CA) and Jenny Ryther (Sr./Westerville, OH) were honored prior to the first-pitch. The duo excelled in their final home game at Dot Hicks Field. Gulla (20-12) extended her consecutive scoreless streak to 30 and 2/3 innings without a single run, earned or unearned. The left-handed hurler recorded her 20th win of the season. It marks the first 20-game winner since Christy Waring posted 22 victories in 1997.

Ryther went 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI single. The right fielder, who made her 113th consecutive straight start, singled in Vanessa Clarkson in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ryther has a .241 batting average, but has really excelled over the final three weeks. The senior co-captain has batted .320 in the last 18 games. The Herd is 15-3 in those contests.

"It is great to see those two perform for us on the field," said Stanton. "But, there accomplishments on the field pale in comparison to their importance for this program off the field. They are two of the main reasons this program is at the point it is at today."

Clarkson (Jr./Moreno Valley, CA) went 1-for-3 with a run scored and double. The third basemen extended her season best hitting streak to 14 games.

Marshall does not return to action until next Friday with a key three-game series versus Ohio. The Bobcats (13-8) are just one game behind the Herd for the third and final spot from the MAC East Division in the 2001 MAC Tournament.