HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – On a 3-2 pitch from Marshall's Paige Maynard in the top of the first inning,
Makayla McClain launched a middle-in pitch high over the center-field wall for her 18th home run of the season. This home run set the Mountaineers' new single-season home run record, surpassing Katie Boyd's record of 17 set in 2009. McClain rounded the bases for the 18th time and touched home as the program's new single-season home run leader.
Although McClain made history, Marshall (26-10, 8-2 SBC) responded with three home runs in the first two innings to propel it to a 3-1 win over App State (23-11, 4-6 SBC) in Thursday's series opener. Marshall hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the bottom of the first to take the lead and never looked back.
App State struggled to find its offensive footing against Marshall's strong pitching, especially with runners on base, as it did not record a hit with runners on base all game (0-12). The Mountaineers left 10 runners on base in the contest and were 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
How it Happened
Hitting first for the first time since March 15, McClain rocketed a 3-2 pitch into center field for a lead-off home run to set the individual record and give the Mountaineers an early lead. Marshall settled down after that, retiring the next three hitters, before smacking back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead after an inning.
After a scoreless second inning, Marshall hit its third solo home run of the contest in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead to two. McClain and
Macy Hamby led off the third with a single and a walk, and after a strikeout,
Taylor Schafer drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Facing a one-out jam, the Thundering Herd induced a fielder's choice and struck out a batter to end the threat and the inning with their two-run lead intact.
Sophie Moshos worked her first scoreless inning of the game in the bottom of the third inning, but the Mountaineers couldn't cash in two baserunners in the bottom of the inning. Moshos again worked around a pair of baserunners in the fourth to put up a zero, and despite
Emilie Ching drawing a two-out walk, Marshall forced a groundout to end the inning.
The Thundering Herd threatened again in the bottom of the fifth with two singles, but Moshos was nails with runners on base in the game, as she stranded two more on base to keep App State within two.
KB Bradshaw singled in the sixth inning, but Marshall didn't let her get past first base, as play moved to the bottom of the sixth with the Thundering Herd ahead by two.
App State kept Marshall scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Moshos left a lead-off double stranded at second with a pair of strikeouts to conclude her day. Needing two runs to tie the score,
Grace Barrett singled to shortstop to generate a one-out threat, but the Herd forced a fly out and a foul out to end the game and secure the home victory.
Thursday Notes
Home runs
App: McClain (18)
MAR: Hoskins (5), Blake (11), Titi (4)
WP: Paige Maynard (7-3): 4.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV: King (5)
LP: Moshos (10-6): 6 IP, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Up Next
The Mountaineers and Thundering Herd will meet in the middle game of this three-game series on Saturday. Saturday's game, originally scheduled for 5 p.m., was pushed up to 3 p.m. earlier in the day on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
