Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
11-11
Loyola University Chicago
4-19
Marshall Softball Completes Perfect Home-Opening Weekend With Sunday Sweep
3/9/2025 7:00:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Softball (12-11) won all six of its contests in the Marshall March Madness Invitational after its victories on Sunday.
The Herd defeated Loyola Chicago, 13-5 before shutting out Valparaiso to sweep its home-opening weekend.
Junior Abby Darnley hit her team-leading fourth home run in the opener. Her and senior Kasia Parks with 10 hits each over the six contests.
DABS FOR DARN BARN!
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 9, 2025
Abby Darnley with her team-leading fourth home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/a5apZ7zIe2
Sophomore Jules King finished off the weekend with her second shutout of the year.
First Game: Marshall 13, Loyola Chicago 5 (6 Innings)
The Herd continued its offensive outburst with 13 runs on 11 hits. Four Marshall players had two RBI apiece in the win. Rielly Lucas, Kasia Parks, Paige Simpson and Tia Titi all drove in a pair.
It was Titi, the freshman's RBI double which kickstarted the Herd in the 3rd with the team trailing, 4-1. The first-year player from Oxford, Alabama also made several key plays at third base including a liner snag and throw over to first to start one of two double plays the Herd defense made in the win.
Coach Zerkle's team would follow with 10 runs over its final three plate appearances.
Scoring three of the runs was Parks who continued her strong weekend with an RBI triple in the 5th. She finishes the Marshall March Madness Invitational with 10 hits alongside Darnley.
HAVE A WEEKEND KP!@kjparkss drives in more!
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 9, 2025
Herd leads 10-4! pic.twitter.com/mnDapmW7yH
In the circle, Lindsay Henson took over in the 3rd and had her best outing in 2025, earning the win in relief. The senior from Lawrenceburg, Indiana scattered four hits while striking out one, keeping the Ramblers scoreless over the final three innings.
Henson is the fifth MU pitcher to earn a win this season.
After Darnley's 6th inning home run, Diamond Leslie and Candler Hoksins reached base with Bub Feringa's game-ending hit sealing Marshall's third eight-run win of the weekend.
Second Game: Marshall 5, Valparaiso 0
Starter Jules King continued Henson's dominance in the circle with a scoreless outing to earn her fourth win of the season.
Marshall's sophomore pitcher struck out six in a complete-game performance, her second of the weekend, and third of the season.
The Herd offense broke through in a three-run third. Freshmen Titi and Leslie were again at the forefront. Titi notched her second RBI hit of the game to score two after a Leslie sacrifice fly.
Marshall put the game away with Feringa's RBI in the 5th.
UP NEXT
Marshall faces No. 24 Liberty Tuesday evening at Dot Hicks Field. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
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: Henson, Lindsay (1-0)
L: Peyton Pepkowski (1-13)
Batting:
2B: Haley Wallace 2 ; Abby Johnson 1
RBI: Haley Wallace 1 ; Bella Crimaldi 1 ; Maddy Hickey 1 ; Nat Lesnicki 1
SH: Skyler Croker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sierra Sass 1 ; Haley Wallace 1 ; Bella Crimaldi 1 ; Abby Johnson 1 ; Averi Vander Woude 1
CS: Haley Wallace 1
Batting:
2B: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Parks, Kasia 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
3B: Parks, Kasia 1
HR: Darnley, Abby 1
RBI: Ulrich, Brooklyn 1 ; Parks, Kasia 2 ; Lucas, Rielly 2 ; Darnley, Abby 1 ; Titi, Tia 2 ; Feringa, Bub 1 ; Simpson, Paige 2
SF: Lucas, Rielly 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ulrich, Brooklyn 2 ; Parks, Kasia 2 ; Darnley, Abby 2 ; Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 4 ; Titi, Tia 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
SB: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
CS: Blake, Ava 1
