Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
4-3
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North Florida
6-1
Marshall Softball Drops Tight Contest at North Florida, 4-3
2/11/2026 8:53:00 PM | Softball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Marshall Softball (4-3) came up just short in a 4-3 loss on the road at North Florida on Wednesday.
The Herd struggled against the UNF ace, until Bella Gerlach's two-run home run gave the Herd a brief lead in the 5th before a decisive three-run shot flipped the game in the bottom half.
MU fell behind when a throwing error allowed the Ospreys (6-1) to score the game's first run in the bottom of the 3rd. The hosts were coming off a 47-win season last year, and had already run-ruled Auburn in 2026.
Sophomore Maddie Veal was solid in her first start in 2026. Veal struck out three and stranded four Ospreys across her 4.2 innings pitched.
Marshall appeared to have escaped the 5th when Diamond Leslie cut down the potential tying run at the plate from centerfield before the three-run home run for North Florida.
The Herd showed resilience in the 7th, with Haleigh Adkins doubling in the gap and scoring to cut the deficit to one, but the rally ended with the tying run stranded.
Up Next
Marshall heads to Gainesville to begin the Florida Classic Friday.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: COOK, Taylor (2-0)
L: Veal, Maddie (0-1)
S: CAMPER, Kadyn (1)
Batting:
2B: Adkins, Haleigh 1
HR: Gerlach, Bella 1
RBI: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Gerlach, Bella 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gerlach, Bella 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
SB: Simpson, Paige 1
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Batting:
3B: McCARTHY, Kalyn 1
HR: SHAW, Grace 1
RBI: SHAW, Grace 3
SH: KEEF, Addie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LANGFORD, Hallie 1 ; KEEF, Addie 1 ; SHAW, Grace 1 ; McCARTHY, Kalyn 1
SB: LANGFORD, Hallie 2 ; McCARTHY, Kalyn 1
