Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
7-11
Loyola University Chicago
3-17
Herd Slugs Its Way to Two Wins on Home-Opening Day
3/7/2025 10:27:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall's Softball team (8-11) hit five home runs across two wins Friday in its first games from Dot Hicks Field in 2025.
The Herd defeated Loyola Chicago, 9-1 in five innings to open Friday. Freshman Ramey George and senior Kasia Parks each hit their first-career collegiate home runs in the win.
Coach Morgan Zerkle's team then defeated Buffalo, 3-2
"It's good to be in front of our home crowd," Coach Zerkle said. "It wasn't our best offensive day but we had some big swings in there which made the difference in the ballgame. Our defense was great, pitching held us tight, and it was fun for our home crowd to see the squad this year."
For the full postgame thoughts from Coach Zerkle and sophomore Jules King, view HERE.
First Game: Marshall 9, Loyola Chicago 1 (5 Innings)
The Herd did the majority of its damage with a six-run 3rd. Parks' first-career shot to the opposite way was the first of three hit in the frame.
Ramey George's three-run blast was preceded by junior Abby Darnley's solo shot to left. Marshall has now had six players this season hit a first-career home run, including Darnley. The four the team hit were its most in a game this season, and most since April of last season at Georgia State.
Bombs away in the 3rd!! pic.twitter.com/rVUhIT054Q
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 7, 2025
The long balls came in support of senior Bub Feringa, who earned her second win in the circle in 2025. Feringa pitched a five-inning complete game while scattering six hits with just the one earned run. Marshall's two-way player also aided herself with an RBI double in the 3rd.
Chandler Hoskins added a two-run blast in the 5th before sophomore Haleigh Adkins brought home junior Paige Simpson to end it in five.
Second Game: Marshall 3, Buffalo 2
Marshall continued its momentum from the first game with a two-run 1st in the second against Buffalo.
Senior Rielly Lucas brought in redshirt junior Brooklyn Ulrich who hit her triple of the season on the first pitch she saw in the 1st.
Lucas's solo shot to dead center in the 3rd proved to be the winning run for starter Jules King and the MU defense.
That's a Herd home run from Rielly!
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 8, 2025
Marshall 3, Buffalo 1 pic.twitter.com/xXvyAleSyi
King struck out 10 with five of her punchouts ending an inning. The sophomore's most crucial strikeout came to end the game with the potential game-tying run standing on third base. To close a 10 pitch battle, the Steubenville, Ohio native painted the outside corner to get the call and seal a Friday sweep for Marshall.
UP NEXT
The second day of the Marshall March Madness Invitational starts for the Herd at 4 p.m. against Valparaiso. Marshall will again face Buffalo to follow with an autograph signing following the second game.
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 (2-4)
L: Andie Broniewicz (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Ali Pawlowicz 1
RBI: Skyler Croker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ali Pawlowicz 1
Batting:
2B: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Feringa, Bub 1
HR: Parks, Kasia 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; George, Ramey 1
RBI: Parks, Kasia 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 2 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; George, Ramey 3 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1
SF: Adkins, Haleigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parks, Kasia 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 2 ; Simpson, Paige 2 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; George, Ramey 1
SB: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Blake, Ava 1
