Marshall Falls to Kent State 3-2

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.– The Marshall University softball team (10-5) fell late in the game, 3-2, to the Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday.

"It was a well played game on both sides," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "We look forward to the rest of the weekend and us coming out with a little more intensity and picking up things on the offensive side."

Kent State (3-9) struck first, scoring in the third inning when Rachel Wilson came home, unearned, on a Marshall error.

The Herd then returned the favor in the fifth when freshman Ashley Gue scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 1-1. Marshall clinched the lead in the sixth after junior catcher Melanie Stoehr crossed the plate on a Kent State passed ball to put the Herd on top 2-1.

Kent State's Heather Duhon answered in the top of the seventh with a two-run round tripper to edge a 3-2 Golden Flash advantage – Holly Finchum also scored on the play.

Marshall was unable to convert runs in the bottom of the seventh as the Herd fell 3-2.

Senior Katie Murphree garnered the loss for Marshall after eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

"Going into the seventh, up 2-1, Katie pitched a great game," Stanton said. "In the seventh we have to close the door. We cannot afford to have that walk there. Offensively on the flip side we had runners in scoring position, and we were not able to get the timely hit."

Kent State's Kylie Reynolds (2-8) notched the win after going the distance with seven strikeouts. Top hitter for Kent State was Mary Holt, who went 2-for-3 at the plate.