Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
1-4
Morgan State
1-4
Herd Breaks Through To Close Opening Weekend with 12-4 Victory
2/9/2025 1:16:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. — After a frustrating few days offensively to start the 2025 season, Marshall Softball pounded 12 runs on 15 hits to defeat Morgan State, 12-4 in six innings on Sunday.
The Herd (1-4) jumped out to a 4-0 lead before adding on eight over its final two plate appearances. Junior Abby Darnley had a career-high four hits to lead the team. Redshirt junior Brooklyn Ulrich and junior transfer Paige Simpson added on three hits each.
"It was a challenging opening weekend but that's what we signed up for," Head Coach Morgan Zerkle said. "We want to learn everything about our team now to best prepare us for the Sun Belt. We have more options in the circle than last season and we are a good hitting team that didn't show up until Sunday, but I'm very optimistic for this group that will get better each weekend."
1️⃣0️⃣‼️
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) February 9, 2025
Abby brings in two more to make it 10-4 Herd! pic.twitter.com/GM7jURRKCF
Morgan State (1-4) finishes its NFCA Leadoff Classic with a win over Notre Dame to its resume. The defending MEAC Champions tied the game with four in the top of the 5th, before MU quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half.
Sophomore Jules King started the game for the Herd, striking out five over the first three innings. Junior Paige Maynard earned her first win in the circle in relief after putting out the fire in the 5th.
Starting the Herd rally in the 5th was freshman Tia Titi who notched her first-career collegiate hit on a leadoff pinch-hit double. She was one of several Herd players to hit milestones, with sophomore Ramey George adding her first hit for the Herd. Diamond Leslie drove in two runs with her bloop single getting the Herd back in front for good.
First-Career RBI for Diamond Leslie! 💎
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) February 9, 2025
Herd leads 3-0 in the 2nd pic.twitter.com/ZVk1YnJJpS
Marshall travels to Charleston, S.C. for its second weekend of the season. The weekend starts with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 14 against the College of Charleston starting at 1 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maynard, Paige (1-1)
L: FLETCHER,Victoria (0-2)
Batting:
RBI: LEWIS,Nia 1 ; ALVAREZ,Morgan 1 ; RIVAS,Amber 1 ; PAGANO,Olivia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RIVAS,Amber 1 ; COUSINS,Millie 1 ; MARKS,Tonya 1 ; CAMPOS,Jayla 1
SB: ALVAREZ,Morgan 1 ; RIVAS,Amber 1
Batting:
2B: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Titi, Tia 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
3B: Darnley, Abby 1
RBI: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Darnley, Abby 3 ; Simpson, Paige 3 ; Leslie, Diamond 2
SH: Parks, Kasia 1
SF: Leslie, Diamond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Henson, Lindsay 1 ; George, Ramey 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 2 ; Darnley, Abby 2 ; Simpson, Paige 2 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
SB: Simpson, Paige 1
HBP: Parks, Kasia 1
