Tulsa
Marshall (C-USA)
Marshall Sweeps Golden Hurricane in C-USA Softball Action
4/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 22, 2006
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Huntington, W. Va. - The Thundering Herd used a two-run home run in the first inning of the opening game an cruised to a doubleheader sweep of the Golden Hurricane, 7-5 and 2-0, at Dr. Dorothy "Dot" Hicks Softball Complex. A crowd of 752 witnessed Marshall take over the top spot in the Conference USA standings.
In the first game, sophomore Rchael Folden hit her league leading 17th home run in the first inning giving MU an early 2-0 lead. The Herd added to its lead with five runs in the second inning. Sophomore Samantha Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, while senior Sara Spenia followed by getting hit by a pitch. Freshman Joscelyn Bitner loaded the bases with a bunt single that sat right in front of home plate. Senior Amanda Williams doubled to right center, scoring Spenia and pinch runner Noelle Adams.
Junior Ashley Mitchell reached safely on the second bunt single of the inning as Bitner came home to score, making the score 5-0. Folden was hit in the arm by TU starter Maren Genow, then advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Jessica Williams. A double down the leftfield line by Leigh Wintter scored Folden and Mitchell for a 7-0 Marshall lead.
Tulsa ended the Herd's nine-consecutive inning scoring streak by shutting out MU in the third. The Hurricane then put a five spot on the board in the fourth. Senior Katie Torres singled up the middle to start the stanza. Sophomore Sara Dyer followed with her sixth home run of the season. After a ground out, freshman Jessica Barr singled to center field, followed by singles from Angela Osbon and Kelly Miller to load the bases. An RBI single to right field by Brooke Smart scored another TU run. A single by Julie Shafer scored Miller and Stephanie Chomicki, who reached on a fielder's choice, making it a 7-5 game.
Tulsa had runners at first and second in both the fifth and seventh, however the Hurricane could not scratch a run. TU stranded eight runners on base in the contest, while Barr was the big bat with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Genow is tagged with the loss, falling to 13-8 on the season. Freshman Katie Lee relieved Genow in the second inning and pitched 4.2 shutout innings of relief.
The Hurricane opened the second game with a pair of singles from Smart and Shafer, however the Herd was able to get out of the inning unscathed. Marshall loaded the bases in the first, however TU was able to get out of the inning unscathed. Tulsa again had a pair of base runners in the top of the second inning, but MU was able to pitch out of the jam.
In the bottom of the second, MU got a led off single from Rodriguez, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Spenia. Another single from Joscelyn Bitner gave the Herd a pair of runners. A two-out error by TU allowed the first Herd run to score. Folden followed with an RBI-single for the second MU run of the night.
Tulsa threatened in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings with two base runners each inning. For the game, Tulsa stranded 10 runners on base, including seven in scoring position. Junior Julie Fennell was saddled with the loss, falling to 9-6 overall. Osbon led the Hurricane hitters with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
TU (27-17, 11-6 C-USA) and Marshall (29-20, 13-7 C-USA) will conclude their series on Sunday with a Noon (CST) contest.
