HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University Thundering Herd will take a break from Conference-USA action to host a midweek game against former Mid-American Conference rival, Ohio, Wednesday, April 9 beginning at 3 p.m. (ET).
The Herd enters Wednesday's game riding its longest winning streak of the season, four games. Marshall earned doubleheader sweeps over No. 24 Ohio State and East Carolina. The Herd dismantled the Buckeyes in the series opener, 11-0 snapping Ohio State's 32 regular-season nonconference home game winning streak, which was intact since 2004.
Marshall, backed by a multiple home run performance from Rachel Folden, claimed the finale from Ohio State, 6-1. It was the third time the Herd has defeated a ranked opponent during the 2008 season.
The bats remained hot for the Herd when it traveled to Greenville, N.C., for its showdown with the Pirates. Saturday's action was rained out and the teams resumed play, Sunday, for a doubleheader. The Herd scored three runs in the final two innings to create a 6-0 lead, which it would hang onto for the 6-3 victory. Marshall and the Pirates were tied at three before junior transfer Kelly Nielson cracked a two-out two-run home run to score the eventual game-winning run to clinch the 5-3 win.
Folden and sophomore pitching ace Cailtyn Jackson were rewarded for their efforts with C-USA weekly accolades. Folden went 7-for-15 last week with three home runs to claim her second weekly title of the season.
Jackson was a force in the pitching circle earning the complete-game shutout win over nationally-ranked Ohio State. She followed up her performance with six scoreless innings against ECU, picking up her second win of the week.
The Herd and Bobcats have squared off 36 times in the all-time series with Marshall holding a 20-16 advantage. Marshall also owns a six-game winning streak over Ohio.
