Highlanders Stave off Late-Inning Rally in Game Two to Earn Split with Marshall

Huntington, W.Va. -- Radford scored two runs in the top of the sixth and staved off a Marshall rally in the bottom of the seventh of game two to win 2-1 and earn a split in nonconference softball action from Dot Hicks Field. Deana Benner (Glen Burnie, Md.) picked up the complete game victory, scattering five hits and striking out three. The Thundering Herd won game one 11-0 in five innings.

The Highlanders scored both their runs with two outs in the sixth. Lindsay Woody (Annapolis, Md.) scored on a passed ball and Amber Drexel (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed with a RBI single to right to make it 2-0.

After the first MU out in the seventh, Karri Britt stepped up to blast a double to left center field. Sara Spenia followed Britt's lead with a hit of her own to score Sarah Wilson who came in to run for Britt. The Highlander defense stepped up and killed the Herd rally. MU's next batter hit a fly ball to right center and center fielder Donita Brady (Virginia Beach, Va.) made the catch and cut down the runner trying to take third base on the tag.

In game one, the Thundering Herd cranked out 12 hits in an 11-0, five-inning defeat of the Highlanders. Marshall took a commanding lead, pounding out 11 runs in the first three innings of the game. Herd pitchers Randi Nielson and Sierra Davenport kept the Highlander hitters in check, allowing only one hit, an infield single to Tina Rogers (Fairport, N.Y.) in the second.

Nielson pitched two and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball, while Davenport tossed two and one-third innings no-hit innings to get the victory. Davenport improves to 3-1 on the season. Davenport helped herself out at the plate going, 3-for-3 with three runs scored. She also stole two bases. MU's Amanda Williams was 2-for-2 with three RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box