Published: April 18, 2008 02:05 pm         

MSU softball falls to Marshall

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Marshall University got back-to-back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning of game one and held on for a 3-1 win, then scored twice in the sixth inning of game two to rally for a 5-4 win and a doubleheader sweep of host Morehead State Tuesday at University Field. The Eagles fell to 26-10 while the Thundering Herd moved to 21-25.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in both games but could not hold on. In the opener, senior Brandy Bucher singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third for the 1-0 MSU lead. Her single scored shortstop Allie Honkofsky.

But, with two outs in the fifth, Marshall All-American catcher Rachel Folden ripped a ball that got past MSU rightfielder Brittany Scheer. Folden raced around the bases and tried for an inside-the-park home run. The relay throw came to second base initially but then came home where Folden was called out after catcher Korey Ellis blocked the plate and applied the tag. However, the umpires ruled that Folden's access to the plate was blocked and she was awarded her 14th homer of the year. That opened the gates for the Herd. Instead of being out in the inning, Marshall then hit back-to-back home runs by Sam Rodriguez and Caitln Jackson for the 3-1 lead.

Jackson tossed a complete game for the win, allowing four hits. Quinn allowed all three runs before being relied in the sixth by Alex Gjevre. She fell to 9-4 on the season.

In the nightcap, the Eagles scored first again. Bucher walked and then scored on Rebecca Butler's team high 10th double of the year. A four-hit inning for the Herd, however, off Gjevre in the second pushed them on top 2-1. The Eagles knotted the game at two in the second though. Allie Honkofsky doubled to deep left centerfield and moved to third on Courtney Seiler's single. Bri Jones then singled home Honkofsky.

Marshall regained the advantage (3-2) in the fifth, but Butler erased that in the bottom of the inning. With two down and Quinn on third, she crushed her fifth career home run over the fence in center for a 4-3 Eagle lead.

Gjevre (the current Ohio Valley Conferene Pitcher of the Week) had come on in relief of starter Sarah Funston and was in line to pick up her 14th win, but Marshall had other plans. The Herd manufactured two runs in the top of the sixth, including the winning run scoring on an MSU fielding error in the outfield. Jackson shut the door by recording the final two outs for her first save of the season for Marshall.

Gjevre took the loss to fall to 13-4.

MSU travels to Southeast Missouri on Saturday and Sunday this week for a three-game OVC series.