Huntington Times

Softball Earns Sunday Sweep to Close Chattanooga Challenge

The Marshall softball team is now 7-2 after a pair of victories over Western Illinois and Indiana State. 

The Herd put together 14 runs on 15 hits in a five-inning victory in the first game. Sydney Nester dominated in a one-hit shutout to give Coach Megan Smith Lyon's side a one-run win to close the weekend. 

"I was proud of our approach today, bouncing back after a tough game last night," Smith Lyon said. "Our offense was dominant in the first game of the day and Sydney and the defense were phenomenal against Indiana State." 

Box Score (PDF)

First Game: Marshall 14, Western Illinois 1 (5 Innings) 

Freshman Bri Godfrey earned her first win in her first career-start in the circle for the Thundering Herd. 

The Deerfield Beach, Fla. native allowed just one run on four hits over five innings.

The offense promptly aided Godfrey in the 1st when Grace Chelemen legged out a two-RBI triple. Chelemen would score on a Camryn Michallas knock up the middle to put Marshall in front after one.

The Herd tacked on four more in the 2nd, with Michallas driving in her second of the game. Feringa drove in two more runs to aid the early MU advantage.

Chelemen, Feringa, Michallas each drove in a game-high three runs. 

The offense enforced the mercy rule with a six-run 4th. Freshman Brooklyn Ulrich earned her third RBI of the weekend with a drive up the middle. Alex Coleman and Lauren Love each picked up an RBI in the win as well. 

The win marked Marshall's second five-inning victory of the weekend. 

Box Score (PDF)

Second Game: Marshall 1, Indiana State 0

The Herd turned to senior pitcher Sydney Nester in the weekend finale. The Hillsville, Va. native bounced back emphatically, throwing a one-hit shutout.

Marshall jumped in front in the top of the 1st when Feringa drove in Sydney Bickel with an RBI double. 

The one run was all Nester needed.

A one-out Indiana State walk in the bottom half of the frame was the only Sycamore batter to reach through the first five innings.

Nester, who held Purdue-Fort Wayne hitless in a five-inning game on Mar. 3, 2022, kept Indiana State without a base knock for the first 5.2 innings Sunday.                   

The only hit was a hard hit infield single to third for Indiana State with two outs in the 6th. Nester would end the short rally with one of her five strikeouts to the following batter. 

A pair of groundouts made for a drama-free end to the 7th, giving Nester her fifth win of the season, and Marshall its seventh in nine games.

UP NEXT

Marshall heads to the Liberty Classic in Lynchburg, Va. next week. Northern Illinois will be the Herd's first opponent on Fri. Feb. 24.

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Original source can be found here