Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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Herd Softball Defeats Villanova; Splits Saturday Doubleheader
2/22/2025 7:38:00 PM | Softball
CLEMSON, S.C. — Marshall Softball faced a pair of NCAA Regional opponents from last season Saturday and fared well, defeating Villanova, 3-2 to start Saturday before falling to Clemson, 8-3.
As a result of all contests Saturday, Marshall will play the Tigers again on Sunday in the Clemson Classic championship at 12:30 p.m. The game will be streamed again on ACC Network+.
First Game: Marshall 3, Villanova 2
Senior Kasia Parks hit the Herd's second RBI triple of the game to put the Herd ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th. It was the second go-ahead RBI of the game for Parks after her sacrifice fly put the team up 2-1 in the 4th.
Speed was the theme of the win for Coach Morgan Zerkle's team, after freshman Diamond Leslie tripled in fellow freshman Tia Titi in the two-run 4th. Titi reached after legging out an infield single hit deep in the hole at shortstop.
Titi had two of MU's seven hits after getting the nod at third base.
The opportune offense came in support of starter Bub Feringa. Marshall's senior utility pitcher scattered four Villanova hits in her first complete-game win of the season. Feringa had no walks, following up on starter Jules King's complete-game victory Friday where she too surrendered no walks.
After gaining the lead in the 7th, Feringa made quick work of the Wildcats in the 7th, with a diving catch on a jam-shot popup on the first pitch of the inning.
The win marked Marshall's first in its final at-bat this season.
Second Game: Clemson 8, Marshall 3
A five-run Clemson rally all with two outs in the 3rd sunk Marshall in the second game Saturday in front of the home McWhorter Stadium crowd in Clemson.
Starter Jules King had three strikeouts over the first two innings, but the Herd was unable to reach an elusive third out in the 3rd.
Senior Paige Maynard entered in relief and was able to settle down the Tiger offense with two more punchouts. Sophomore Emily Cole finished off Clemson in the 6th with an offspeed strikeout of her own.
Emily Cole gets us out of the 6th with her first strikeout of the year! 🤢🤢 pic.twitter.com/2LCxci0Bh8
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) February 22, 2025
Marshall's offense had its opportunities to get back into the game, but left seven on-base in the game.
The Herd did breakout in the 6th, with another RBI triple from Diamond Leslie scoring pinch-running Ava Blake and Abby Darnley. Her and Parks drove in the team's runs in a three-run rally in the frame.
Blake ran for senior Rielly Lucas who finished the game 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of walks.
UP NEXT
The championship and weekend finale between Marshall and Clemson is set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
For all the latest information about Marshall softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Feringa, Bub (1-2)
L: GALLANT, Kat (2-3)
Batting:
2B: BURROWS, Maddie 1 ; L. St. jean 1
RBI: BURROWS, Maddie 1 ; OSTROWSKI, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GRAY, Elizabeth 1 ; L. St. jean 1
HBP: WHITE, Kelsey 1
Batting:
3B: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Parks, Kasia 1
RBI: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Parks, Kasia 2
SH: Leslie, Diamond 2
SF: Parks, Kasia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Titi, Tia 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
