A three-run homer from Rebecca Gamby pushed the Marshall University softball team to a 3-2 win over East Carolina on Sunday morning in the final contest of the three-game conference series.
East Carolina (23-9, 3-3 C-USA) tallied the game’s first run during the second as Suzanne Riggs would scamper home during a Marshall defensive attempt.
The Thundering Herd (11-15, 1-5 C-USA) battled right back into the ballgame with a three-run homer off the bat of Rebecca Gamby, her second of the weekend and eighth of the season to take a 3-1 lead. Also scoring on the play were Jessica Hughes, whose pinch hitter Bri Anna Hope reached via bunt, and pinch runner Taylor Thompson who took the bases after a Samantha Spurlock single to left.
Keeping the game close was Suzanne Riggs’ double to center that plated Abby Wynne from first and closed the gap at 3-2 in favor of MU heading into the bottom of the fourth.
During the fifth Marshall made an adjustment in the circle as Rachel Rillo came in for Natalee Pulver, who left after 4.1 innings. The Herd did not relinquish its 3-2 lead, crediting Pulver with the win and allowing Rillo to earn her first save.
Herd softball hits the road for spring break for the Miami (Oh) Invitational from March 25 through 27 in Oxford, Ohio. Games begin Friday at noon (EST) against Toledo followed by a 4 p.m. matchup with tournament-host Miami.