Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Marshall
MT Heads to Marshall for Last Conference Series
5/4/2018 11:00:00 AM | Softball
Date: Saturday, May 5 12pm & 2pm – Sunday, May 6 11am
Teams: Middle Tennessee at Marshall
Location: Dot Hicks Softball Field – Huntington, W.Va.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team plays their last conference series of the year this coming weekend. The Raiders travel to Huntington, W.Va. to face off with Marshall. The series is scheduled to get underway with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 5 at 12pm. Stay tuned to Blue Raider Athletics for any weather related updates.
Last season, Marshall swept the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro by scores of 8-0, 3-1 and 2-0. The Thundering Herd was ranked No. 25 at the time and was led by two NFCA All-American's Jordan Dixon and Morgan Zerkle, who have since graduated.
Marshall leads the all-time series between the two teams, 13-1. MT has never beaten the Herd since entering Conference USA in 2013. Middle's last win over Marshall came in 2011 during tournament play in Auburn, Ala. The Blue Raiders bested the Herd, 3-2.
Scouting the Blue Raiders (34-18, 11-9)
Middle enters the series having secured a spot in the C-USA Tournament for the first time in program history. MT clinched that spot by sweeping UTEP last weekend, that was also the first time the Raiders have swept a conference opponent since entering C-USA. MT won the three games by scores of 7-0, 7-2 and 5-2.
Cori Jennings pitched all 21 innings in the circle against the Miners with one of the games being a one-hit shutout. She earned C-USA Co-Pitcher of the Week for her endurance wins over the Miners. The senior now has a conference-leading 18 wins on the year and a 2.07 ERA, which is second-lowest in C-USA. Jennings has 92 strikeouts this season and will be looking to push herself over the 100 mark before the Conference tournament begins.
Lexi Cushing continued to crush the ball last week, picking up her 13th and 14th home runs of the season. She also hit five RBI to set a new single season record at Middle Tennessee. She bested a mark that was previously set in 2006. She now has 45 on the year, which leads the conference. Cushing now holds two single season records and has time to extend those in the coming games.
Scouting the Marshall Thundering Herd (23-28-1, 11-9-1)
Marshall enters the weekend having lost six of their last seven games to WKU, Louisville, Ohio and Pitt. The one win was against WKU, although they dropped the series to the Hilltoppers. The Herd sit a half a game behind the Raiders with their one tie on the year. They are pushing for a C-USA berth.
The Thundering Herd is led at the plate by Ally Harrell and Elicia D'Orazio. Harrell is batting .357 and leads the team with 40 RBI and 10 home runs. She also has nine doubles for a .705 slugging percentage. D'Orazio has scored a team-high 40 runs on the year and is second in the conference in stolen bases with 43. She is batting .347 with three triples. Taylor McCord is the Herd's other RBI threat with 30 on the year. She leads the league in doubles (17) and has five home runs. She is also the only Marshall player to have started all 52 games this season, as the squad's catcher. McCord was a preseason All-Conference selection.
In the circle, the Herd relies on Abigail Tolbert. She has thrown 154.1 innings for a 3.36 ERA and 12-10 record. She has 10 complete games, five shutouts and 84 strikeouts. Kailee Williamson and Ali Burdette round out the Marshall staff having each thrown over 83 innings this season. Williamson is 7-9 with a 3.77 ERA and 62 strikeouts while Burdette is 3-9 with a 4.43 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
