March 14, 2016
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall junior Jordan Dixon (Edmond, Okla.) was named Conference USA Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday.
Dixon dominated in the circle through the three game series against the UTEP Miners earning all three wins with an ERA of 1.37 and 17 strikeouts.
"Her one word that she shared with the team Sunday morning was dependable," Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. "Dixon talked how ability does not matter without dependability and it was great to see her live that out throughout the weekend against a very aggressive and solid hitting team.
"She really grinded it out and is deserving of this recognition after recording all three wins."
In game one Saturday, Dixon came out firing from start to finish. She began the game with two strikeouts and then retired the third batter with a two-pitch at-bat that ended in a ground out to short. She recorded all three outs in the fourth by strikeout. Dixon scattered four hits throughout the game and struck out 10 going the distance in the five inning, 10-1 run-rule victory.
In the second game of the double header Saturday afternoon, Dixon entered the game with two outs in the fourth inning and bases loaded and Marshall trailing 1-0. It only took three pitches for Dixon to record the final out with an easy fly out to right field. The hard hitting Miners loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and Dixon along with her defense shut UTEP down without scoring a run. She pitched the final three innings allowing only three hits with two more strikeouts and no runs.
The final game of the series Sunday was more of a battle as UTEP scored three runs in the third, aided by a Herd error. But, once again Dixon shut it down from there as the Miners could not get any more runs across the plate. The junior ace struck out five more batters to complete the sweep.
"This past weekend was a great way to start conference play," Pitching Coach Chanda Bell said about her ace. "We are proud of the way Jordan came out this weekend and was able to take three wins from an aggressive hitting team in UTEP. She showed once again, that she is strong enough to be a dominating pitching in our conference."
Dixon shared the honor this week with Megan Kugelmann of FIU.
With the three wins Dixon moved into sole possession of third place all-time in Marshall softball history with 62 career victories passing Randi Nielson (61, 2002-05). Dixon is already in third all-time in career strikeouts with 657 and needs 71 more to move ahead of Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer Sara Gulla (727, 1998-01).
It is a busy week for the Herd as next up Marshall welcomes Toledo to the Dot for a double header Tuesday and then a single game against Top 20 Kentucky Wednesday at home. Then the Herd hit the road to continue C-USA play with North Texas this weekend.