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The Herd used two total team efforts to sweep Kent State on Saturday. Photo by Matt Riley

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University softball team kept its playoff dreams alive with two clutch wins over East Division champ Kent State, 2-0 and 8-0, at Dot Hicks Field on Saturday afternoon.

Game One: Marshall 2, Kent State 0

Marshall (30-26, 12-11) utilized a two-run second inning to notch a vital win in game one of the doubleheader versus Kent State.

With two outs in the second frame, Ashley Mitchell (Kennesaw, Ga.) singled to the shortstop advancing Leigh Wintter (Acworth, Ga.) to second after she walked a batter earlier. Kent pitcher Tracie Logar then walked her second hitter of the inning—Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.)-- to load the bases for Amanda Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.). The Herd’s all-time career RBI leader did not disappoint and sent a single to center field to give MU a two-run win.

Mitchell led the Herd battery with two hits while Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) was able to get the complete game victory, her 13th of 2004, after giving up two hits and no runs in seven innings.

Logar (7-4) took the loss for Kent State (25-18, 14-6).

Game Two: Marshall 8, Kent State 0

The Herd needed only five innings to dispense of East Division champion Kent State in game two of the doubleheader, dealing the Golden Flashes a Mercy Rule decision, 8-0.

A. Williams singled to right field and was followed up with a Sierra Davenport (Tucson, Ariz.) hit. Sarah Wilson (Washington, W.Va.) then reached on a fielder’s choice which advanced A. Williams to third. Allison Webb (Wayne, W.Va.), who was recognized on her graduation day prior to game one, sent a RBI single to center field for the first run of the game before a Kent State error got Sara Spenia (Las Vegas, Nev.) on base and another run home for a 2-0 lead. Webb would then score on a passed ball as the Herd exited the third with three run cushion.

Marshall would devastate the Golden Flashes in the fifth as Webb singled down the left field line and Jessica Williams (Powder Springs, Ga.) advanced on a hit of her own before Spenia provided her first RBI of the game to make it a 4-0 ball game. A Wintter hit scored J. Williams and a Mitchell sacrifice bunt scored Spenia for a six-run MU lead. The Herd would end the damage with a pair of RBI singles by Kacenga and Davenport for the run-rule win.

Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) tossed a two-hitter, striking out five in five innings. Kate Leary gave up eight hits and five earned runs to a revitalized Marshall hitting crew on the KSU mound.

Davenport, Webb and J. Williams all had two hits for the Herd, who compiled ten in the shortened contest.

Destiny is edging closer to the hands of the Herd. BGSU and Central Michigan split a doubleheader on Saturday, giving the Falcons a 13-10 record, with one game against the Chippewas remaining tomorrow. Ohio won both games against Northern Illinois on Saturday, with game two still under protest by NIU. OU ends their regular season with a 12-9 MAC slate. If Marshall can complete the three-game sweep of KSU and BGSU loses to Central Michigan tomorrow, MU would earn a playoff spot based on the tiebreaker after beating the Falcons earlier this season. If MU loses tomorrow, the Herd will inevitably be ousted from post-season consideration.

The final game of the regular season and the home finale for the Herd’s three seniors—Wilson, Davenport and Sarah Chamberlain (Moses Lake, Wash.)—starts tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Dot Hicks Field

WMUL will broadcast the game via the internet at the above address.