Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
20-13, 6-1
Texas State
20-9, 4-3
Herd Softball Takes Series Opener Against Texas State
3/28/2025 9:33:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The first place Marshall Thundering Herd kept its winning ways with a 5-3 series-opening victory over the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions, Texas State.
Freshman Diamond Leslie powered Marshall (20-13, 6-1 SBC) to all five of its runs, including a grand slam to unload the bases in the 3rd. Marshall pitching held the lead from there against the Bobcats (20-9, 4-3 SBC).
Leslie's five RBI are a career-high for the first-year player from Alpharetta, Georgia. The grand slam is her third home run of the season, and MU's third grand slam of the year.
First career grand slam for Diamond!
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 28, 2025
Marshall 5, Texas State 0 https://t.co/xVID1W9SFm pic.twitter.com/2MObvUd2iB
Head Coach Morgan Zerkle's side has won seven straight and leads the league with its 6-1 record.
"Fun night, fun first game of the series at The Dot," Zerkle said. "The team came out swinging which is exactly what we preached about all week. Great night, great atmosphere for softball and couldn't ask more from the team."
For postgame thoughts from Coach Zerkle and Leslie, view HERE.
The two-out opposite way rip from Leslie put Marshall in the lead after the 1st. The Herd is now 9-1 this season when scoring in the opening inning.
In addition to the two key hits by Marshall's left fielder, seniors Kasia Parks and Rielly Lucas had a pair of crucial hits of their own. Both would score on the 3rd inning slam.
Senior Bub Feringa scored as well on the grand slam. She also earned the victory in the circle, pitching 4.2 while holding the TXST offense to two runs. Feringa has started in all six of the Herd's league victories.
Sophomore Jules King ended the Bobcats' 5th and struck out four before junior Paige Maynard recorded the final out to earn her first save for the Herd.
As a staff, Herd pitching stranded 10 opposing runners. Defense played a role in the win, including a smooth inning-ending double play from sophomore Haleigh Adkins at shortstop in the 4th.
M4 | A double play to end the scoreless top of the 4th!
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 28, 2025
Marshall 5, Texas State 0 pic.twitter.com/flzYM6z0Qn
Saturday will be a doubleheader to wrap up the series as bad weather is forecasted for Sunday. The doubleheader starts at 3 p.m. with the second game to follow.
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 (6-4)
L: Emma Strood (9-5)
S: Maynard, Paige (1)
Batting:
2B: Megan Kelnar 1
HR: Aiyana Coleman 1
RBI: Aiyana Coleman 1 ; Megan Kelnar 1 ; Ciara Trahan 1
SH: Sydney Harvey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erin Peterson 1 ; Sydney Harvey 1 ; Aiyana Coleman 1
SB: Bailee Slack 1
Batting:
2B: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1
HR: Leslie, Diamond 1
RBI: Leslie, Diamond 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Parks, Kasia 2 ; Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
SB: Simpson, Paige 1
HBP: Parks, Kasia 1
