Marshall Falls 7-4 to Memphis in Women's Softball

The Thundering Herd moves to 15-22 overall and 1-10 in Conference USA with Sunday’s loss. In game two, Marshall was ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth before officials declared the game cancelled due to a predetermined drop dead time of 4:15 p.m. Memphis captured the series with two wins, improving them to 25-10 overall and 8-6 in C-USA.

In a battle of the Valle sisters, Marshall’s Jazmine Valle came out on top during her at-bat in the bottom of the second with a solo homer to left center putting the Herd ahead 1-0. MU scored two additional runs in the frame after a ground-rule double to left center by Taylor Winton plated pinch runners Morgan Cottrell and Taylor Thompson. The Herd led 3-0 heading into the third.

A deadly inning in the fourth plagued the Herd as Memphis was able to score four runs on four hits and two Marshall miscues to take a 4-3 lead as Natalee Pulver came in relief of Andi Williamson during the frame. Pulver would go down as the pitcher of record, dropping her to 7-11 on the year after closing the final 3.1 innings.

Kailey Kassner added safety in a 7-3 Tigers lead after a three-RBI homer to left in the top of the sixth put Marshall in a deeper hole late in the game.

Alysia Hively answered back though in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer to chisel at the lead, pitting the game at 7-4 going into the final stanza. The late rally would not be enough however as Marshall eventually fell 7-4 in the second contest of the conference series.

Reliever Lauren Carley improves to an even 4-4 record with the win, as starter Janelle Valle left the circle after 1.1 innings of work. Carley closed the final 5.2 frames with a pair of strikeouts.

Up next for the Thundering Herd is a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 13 against Kentucky. Games are slated for a 3 p.m. start.