Softball team splits two with Morehead

by KERRI L. KEEFER
reporter

While still in the hunt for a berth in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Marshall's softball team split a doubleheader with an out-of-conference opponent Thursday.

The Morehead State Eagles (12-24) traveled to Huntington and split a doubleheader with the Thundering Herd. The Eagles took the first game 2-1, and Marshall (27-21 overall, 9-7 MAC) returned the favor in the second game with a 6-1, 14-hit performance.

Marshall Coach Shonda Stanton said she was disappointed with the loss in the first game.

"I felt that after the first run we felt that the game was over," Stanton said. "We let up on our intensity."

In the first game, the Thundering Herd scored first and held a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning, when the Eagles scored two runs on a double by Shonti Robinson.

Senior Sara Gulla received the loss on the mound for Marshall, although, she gave up only four hits and struck out 13.

According to an Office of Sports Information press release, Gulla "became only the second pitcher in Mid-American Conference history to post back-to-back seasons of 200 or more strikeouts."

Pam Crawford earned the win for the Eagles, giving up just four hits.

"In the first game, we weren't playing our game at all and we needed to win the second game in order to have confidence going into our MAC play," Marshall centerfielder Nikki Wilcox said.

Marshall rebounded to take the second game from Morehead.

"I was very pleased with the way we came out offensively," Stanton said. "I feel we gained some much needed confidence going into this weekend."

Marshall scored first in the game with two runs in the fourth. Junior leftfielder Kelli Hall drilled a two-run home run, her second of the year. Hall went 3-for-4 in the game with two RBIs.

In the fifth, the Thundering Herd added four more runs to the scoreboard. Junior Vanessa Clarkson hit her third home run of the season. Clarkson went 2-for-4 in the game.

Wilcox, a Lake Forest, Calif., junior had a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

"It helped a lot to boost my confidence which is always good heading into the last games of the regular season," Wilcox said.

Freshman Sierra Davenport got the win for Marshall. She pitched the entire game and gave up only four hits, one run, and recorded six strikeouts.

The Thundering Herd is currently in fourth place in the Mid-American Conference East Division. Marshall moved up in the rankings Wednesday after Akron lost to Bowling Green.

Akron, who took Marshall's fifth place spot, is the Thundering Herd's next opponent. Marshall will take on Akron in a doubleheader Saturday in Huntington.