Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Loyola University Chicago
Herd Softball Returns to Dot Hicks Field For 1st Home Weekend of 2025
3/6/2025 9:00:00 AM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After 17 games on the road to begin the 2025 season, Marshall Softball returns to Huntington for six games across three days with the Marshall March Madness Invitational.Â
Starting Friday, Mar. 7 at 4 p.m., the Herd will host Loyola Chicago, Buffalo, and Valparaiso, all of whom Coach Morgan Zerkle's side will face twice.Â
Weekend Information
Dates: Mar. 7-9, 2025
Opponents: Loyola Chicago, Buffalo, Valparaiso
Place: Huntington, W.Va.
Stadium: Dot Hicks Field
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: @HerdSB
Weekend Schedule (Home team listed first and in ALL CAPS)
March 7
10 a.m. – VALPARAISO vs. Loyola Chicago
1:30 p.m. - BUFFALO vs. Valparaiso
4 p.m. - MARSHALL vs. Loyola Chicago
6:30 p.m. - MARSHALL vs. Buffalo
March 8
10 a.m. – VALPARAISO vs. Loyola Chicago
1:30 p.m. – LOYOLA CHICAGO vs. Buffalo
4 p.m. – MARSHALL vs. Valparaiso
6:30 p.m. – MARSHALL vs. Buffalo
March 9
11 a.m.– VALPARAISO vs. Buffalo
1:30 p.m. – MARSHALL vs. Loyola Chicago
4 p.m. – MARSHALL vs. Valparaiso
Welcoming back everyone to Dot Hicks Field with our Fans First Weekend full of fun giveaways!#WeAreMarshall pic.twitter.com/HdK83aEPZw
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 6, 2025
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Coach Morgan Zerkle
- Marshall enters its second season under Head Coach Morgan Zerkle. The 2017 All-American for the Herd led the team that season with a .476 average en route to a NCAA Tournament appearance. The Herd has made two NCAA Regionals in its history (2013 & 2017). Â
- Zerkle - the Milton, West Virginia native - has been drafted to the AUSL's Bandits this past January, alongside Assistant Coach Sydney McKinney.Â
MARSHALL NOTES
- The Herd returns 12 players from last year with 11 newcomers to the roster - including seven freshmen and four transfers. One of the seven freshmen include Diamond Leslie, who leads the team with a .405 average, including three triples and a home run.
- Among the returners include 2025 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Brooklyn Ulrich. Ulrich hit her first home run of 2025 last weekend in Oklahoma, and is hitting .375 in the leadoff spot for MU.Â
- Marshall returns home with a 6-11 record after a challenging slate in the first month of the season. Fortunately, the friendly confines of Dot Hicks Field has been kind to Thundering Herd softball over the years. Marshall enters this season 215-103-2 at the current Dot Hicks Field on 3rd Avenue.Â
- Following the six games this weekend, the Herd hosts #24-ranked Liberty in a midweek Tuesday game next week before opening league play against the defending SBC regular season champions, Louisiana. Â
- For Marshall March Madness game notes for the Herd, view HERE.
ABOUT LOYOLA CHICAGO
- The Ramblers enter the weekend 3-15 on the season. Loyola has yet to play at home in Chicago this season and are coming off a weekend at #14 Oregon.Â
- Senior infielder Bella Crimaldi leads the team with a .354 average with 17 hits and five RBI.Â
ABOUT BUFFALO
- Buffalo is 2-12 in 2025, also unsurprisingly having yet to play a home contest in upstate New York. Â
- Freshman and Buffalo native Emily Gorman leads the team with a .429 average with a home run and eight RBI.Â
ABOUT VALPARAISO
- Valparaiso is 7-6, once again unable to host games thus far in February in northern Indiana.Â
- The Beacons have a trio of pitchers with ERA's 3.30 or lower. Sophomore and West Portsmouth High School graduate Sydney McDermott leads the team with 33.2 IP and posts a 2.50 ERA.  Â
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!
