After losing the first four games of the season, the Marshall softball team has found itself some momentum by winning three of its last four games, including a Southwest Conference road sweep over Windom on Thursday. The Tigers scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning for an 8-6 Game 1 victory, and put together three runs in the middle innings to secure a 7-6 win in the nightcap.
"It took us a little while to get going in both games," said Tigers head coach Jack Houseman, "but we were able to get a lot of girls across and they got to have a lot of fun."
With Thursday's sweep, Marshall sits at 3-3 in the Southwest and 3-5 overall.
Scoreless after three innings in Game 1, Katie Kaiser put the Tigers on the scoreboard in the fourth with an RBI hit. Then, Kelli VanLeeuwe put Marshall up 3-0 in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run. Kaiser was 3-for-4 with a double.
"It was nice to have some of the other girls contribute to the offense today," Houseman said. "Overall, the girls were coming up big, like Katie Kaiser and Jessica Tubbs."
Tied at 3 in the final inning, Tubbs helped Marshall secure Game 1 with a two-run base hit, sparking a five-run outing for Marshall.
In Game 2, the Tigers got a strong outing in the circle from Miranda Fischer, who struck out seven and gave up only two walks.
Trailing 3-0 after three innings, Marshall got on the scoreboard with a two-run single by VanLeeuwe. The Tigers would added a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 6, and would bring home the game-winning run in the sixth.
Brooke Louwagie paced Marshall's offense in Game 2 with a 3-for-4 outing, knocking a pair of doubles. Amy Welu and Fischer each added two hits.
On Tuesday, Marshall stays in Southwest Conference action, hosting Luverne in a doubleheader.
Game 1
Marshall000 120 5-8 12 0
Windom000 012 3-6 10 1
M-Callie Graff; W-Meghan Vesey. WP-Graff. LP-Vesey. HR: M-Kelli VanLeeuwe. 3B: W-Sami Petersen. 2B: M-Brooke Louwagie, Katie Kaiser, Amy Welu; W-Petersen.
Game 2
Windom102 030 0-6 9 1
Marshall000 331 X-7 11 3
W-Meghan Vesey; M-Miranda Fischer. WP-Fischer. LP-Vesey. 2B: W-Gina Hauge 2; M-Brooke Louwagie 2, Fischer.