Herd Takes Down the Knights in Five Innings

Friday, March 22, 2013 - 23:31 Special to HuntingtonNews.Net

Orlando, Fla.—The Marshall softball team was caught in a 101-minute delay after a lightning siren went off in the UCF Softball Complex with one out on the board in the top of the third inning. The Thundering Herd (16-12, 4-3 C-USA) took a 5-0 lead into the weather delay and came out with a victorious 10-2 win over the Knights (18-15, 1-6 C-USA) Friday, March 22.

After a scoreless first inning for the Herd and Knights, Marshall freshman Katalin Lucas (1-for-1) led off the second inning with a double to right center. A combination of two fielder’s choices, three errors and a Kaelynn Greene (2-for-4) bunt single allowed three runners to score, giving the Herd an early 3-0 lead.

Senior Andi Williamson shut the Knights down in order with three straight strikeouts to give the Herd another chance at the plate in the third inning.

Junior Savanah Webster (2-for-4) stepped into the batters’ box and ripped a double over the head of the right fielder. With no outs on the board, senior Bri Anna Hope (1-for-3) smashed her third home run of the season over the left-side fence to extend the Marshall lead, 5-0. A fly ball caught by the center fielder was the first out of the inning, but not before Lucas reached base on a walk. Senior Alysia Hively also drew a walk from Knights’ hurler Shelby Tournier, but freshman Raquel Escareno was only able to see one pitch before the rain delay.

After the weather interruption, Escareno reached base on an error and loaded the bases for freshman Shaelynn Braxton (1-for-2) with one out on the board. Braxton crushed the ball out of the park, marking her first career home run as a grand slam. Greene was left stranded after reaching base on a single to short stop to end the six-run inning, 9-0.

Williamson and the Herd retired three Knights in a 1-2-3 fashion to end the third inning, and Marshall tackled on another run in the top of the fourth to stretch the lead to 10-0.

The first UCF hit of the game was given up to the Knights’ leadoff hitter Maddy Schroeder, who also scored after advancing bases on a steal and wild pitch. The second hit of the inning was given up to Taylor Wagner, who brought in the second run of the game with an RBI single to short stop.

The game ended after a scoreless fifth inning that allowed the Herd to take advantage of the eight-run rule with a 10-2 win.

Marshall will resume play at 11:00 a.m. ET for a doubleheader against UCF Saturday, March 23.