— By David Walsh
Marshall’s bats went silent at the wrong time.
The Thundering Herd managed just one hit Friday against Coastal Carolina left-hander Abby Henderson in a Sun Belt Conference quarterfinal game at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La.
Meanwhile, the No. 10 seed Chanticleers used a pair of home runs to power past the No. 2 Thundering Herd, 6-0, and advance in their quest to repeat as Sun Belt Tournament champion.
In the regular-season finale last week in Huntington, Marshall (37-17) managed to collect just three hits over the final two games against James Madison as the Dukes prevailed twice to deal the Herd its first home series loss of the season and deny it a chance to win the SBC regular season crown.
Coastal Carolina got all the runs it needed in the first when Delaney Keith reached on a walk and Georgia Hood belted homer No. 23 on the season for a 2-0 lead. The Chanticleers loaded the bases in the third, but Herd pitcher Jules King escaped the jam without a run coming in.
Coastal Carolina (26-30) broke the game open in the top of the fifth. Brie Normandin smacked a triple down the line in right, Kaelin Cash drew a walk and McKennah Metzger singled to load the bases. Up stepped Libby Pippin and she launched a drive over the wall in right for a grand slam and swell the advantage to 6-0.
Henderson (9-14) got Herd in order in the sixth and seventh to record the shutout. Diamond Leslie had a single in the first for the lone Marshall hit. Henderson struck out a season-high five. She got the win Wednesday in Coastal Carolina’s 6-2 win over No. 7 Georgia Southern.
Marshall coach Morgan Zerkle, disappointed by the loss, holds out hope the team’s body of work forthe season, may lead to an NCAA Tournament at-large berth. The Herd entered Friday with a RPI ranking 27, typically a favorable spot for at-large positions, and has 26 Top-100 wins, including four Top-50 victories.
“The Sun Belt is one of the top conferences,” Zerkle said, “It shows no matter what team we’re facing all season long, it is so competitive and I think that gives us a real shot to compete against the best of the best. We started out in February competing against the best of the best, I think we have it in us to do it again. The Sun Belt is competitive and it has prepared us for the Regional Tournament if we are given the opportunity.”
Marshall will learn its fate Sunday.
The Chanticleers, which were swept at home by Marshall in the regular season, will meet No. 3 Texas State in one semifinal Friday. Game time is 4 p.m. They extend their tournament win streak to six (dating back to last season). Texas State eliminated No. 6 James Madison, 5-2, in Thursday’s first quarterfinal.
This was the third quarterfinal round matchup overall and second straight between the two teams in this tournament.
The winner of the Sun Belt Tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
