Topic: Herd softball 2/26 - 2/27

[MUonium]

@HerdSB Drops two on Day One of the BAMA Bash   http://www.herdzone.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/022616aaa.html
Marshall falls to #15 Arizona and #14 Tennessee.  Freshman Briana Daiss hit a grand slam against #15 Arizona.

Feb. 26, 2016 Coach Stanton Post Game Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmlI5LpaUf4&feature=youtu.be

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Marshall softball drops its first two games of the BAMA Bash to #15 Arizona, 7-6, and #14 Tennessee, 5-1. The Herd falls to 6-3 for the season.
Game 1: #15 Arizona 7, Marshall 6
Marshall got the scoring started in the third. The Herd got the bases loaded with sophomore Jordan Colliflower (Huntington, W.Va.) at third, senior Kaelynn Greene (Eastvale, Calif.) at second and sophomore Elicia D’Orazio (Clermont, Fla.) at first. Freshman Briana Daiss (Clermont, Fla.) stepped up to the plate and with a full count launched a grand slam to left center field to break the scoreless ball game. For Daiss, it was her fourth home run of the season and her third multi-RBI game of the year.
 
Arizona (9-3) jumped back into the contest taking advantage of two Marshall errors to score two runs in the bottom of the third.  The Wildcats scored two more to tie the game at 4-4 in the fourth and then took the lead in the fifth, 7-4, once again taking advantage of some defensive miscues by the Herd.
 
"Defense wins you games,” Herd Coach Shonda Stanton said. “We had the lead and as of the result of our inability to catch three routine fly balls, we handed the game away.  "Any team, much less a team like Arizona will make you pay for those mistakes. We would have been out of those innings still holding the lead."
 
Junior pitcher Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) started the game and recorded her 600th career strikeout in the bottom of the first. Dixon is the fourth pitcher in Marshall softball history to reach 600 strikeouts in a career.
 
“Dixon came out and really continued to battle and really compete in that first game when our defense didn’t make the plays that we really needed to make,” Coach Stanton said of her pitcher.
 
Dixon allowed all seven runs but only four were earned.
 
Marshall closed the gap to 7-6 in the top of the sixth after senior Katalin Lucas (Agua Dulce, Calif.) reached on a hit-by-pitch and then sophomore Madi Marshall sent a shot into right field. Junior Morgan Zerkle (Milton, W.Va.) reached base safely on an error at first and both Lucas and Marshall came around to score. Zerkle then used her speed to get into scoring position and gave the Herd a chance to tie the score.
“Games like this can build that confidence when you see what you can do against these teams,” Coach Stanton said. “Zerkle gets on and steals second and then third in a one run ballgame with Arizona and we have the tying run at third base. So those are the things as a player that you build that confidence with that past success.”
 
Marshall was shut down in the seventh as Arizona pulled out the victory.
 
Game 2: #14 Tennessee 5, Marshall 1
 
Once again the Herd got the scoring started as Kaelynn Greene ran out an infield single and then took off around the bases after an errant throw from the third baseman. The ball rolled all the way to the corner in right field, and Greene with her speed made it all the home to take the lead 1-0.
 
Tennessee (9-3) came back with four runs in the third inning. Jordan Dixon started the contest for the Herd but was then pulled after the four runs. Freshman Ali Burdette (Buffalo, W.Va.) entered the circle.
 
Sophomore catcher Taylor McCord (Gilbert, Ariz.) played a great day between both games behind the plate. In game two against Tennessee, McCord started two double plays. In the second inning with a runner at first, the batter popped up a bunt attempt that McCord caught and then from her knees threw back to first to double up the runner. In the third inning, once again with a runner at first, Burdette struck out the batter and then McCord came up with a quick throw down to first to double up the runner who didn’t dive back to the bag in time. In the same inning, after a double, McCord threw down to second on a pitch out to pick off the runner.
 
“McCord had an outstanding day behind the plate,” Coach Stanton said. “She picked off a couple runners and that was huge.”
 
Kaelynn Greene had an excellent game at the plate against the Volunteers with three base hits and two stolen bases. Greene now has 98 career stolen bases and will become the fifth player in Herd history to reach the century mark with two more. “KG (Kaelynn Greene) even though she struggled in game one, came out 3 for 3 in game two so you have to like to see that mental toughness that you can battle through a day,” Coach Stanton said.
 
The Marshall offense could not muster any more runs and Tennessee closed out the victory.   
"We will keep coaching them up and we will be better because of these games,” Coach Stanton said.
 
Next up for Marshall is another double-header Saturday with the first matchup against #4 Alabama with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. eastern. That game can be viewed on the SEC Network Plus. The Herd will stay on the field for the next game with another contest with #14 Tennessee with first pitch set for 7 p.m. eastern.