Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
12-8
Liberty
6-11
Herd’s Second Walk-off Caps Perfect Weekend at Liberty
2/28/2026 3:33:00 PM | Softball
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Senior Paige Simpson's hard shot through the left side of the infield drove in Tia Titi to put the finishing touches on a perfect 4-0 weekend for Marshall Softball. Following the pair of victories Saturday, Head Coach Morgan Zerkle's side has now won eight of its last nine heading into Home Opening Day next Friday.
"Solid performance this weekend taking care of business," Coach Zerkle said. "Pitchers looked exceptional. I can't wait for Huntington to see this team at The Dot!"
The Herd (13-8) opened Saturday with a resounding 8-0 victory over Liberty in 6 innings. The win was MU's first since 2016 over the traditional power. Marshall then rallied for the one in the 6th to tie, before Simpson's heroics in the 7th to top Radford.
First Game: Marshall 8, Liberty 0 (6 innings)
For the second time this season, senior Bella Gerlach led off the game with a home run to dead center, her first of two homers hit in Saturday's opener. Gerlach's second made it an eight-run contest and matched Sydni Burko's league-leading nine longballs.
Burko's ninth home run of the season in the 3rd was a grand slam to give the Herd a five-run cushion. Marshall now has 38 home runs this season - ranked 5th nationally at the conclusion of the Herd's games Saturday - with Burko's blast being the first grand slam of 2026.
The run support was more than enough for starter Maddie Veal. The sophomore pitched her first Marshall complete-game shutout with six innings of scattering five hits with three strikeouts.
Second Game: Marshall 2, Radford 1
The Herd's offense had to work for its runs in the weekend finale, with Burko notching the team's first hit in the 4th. Simpson and Abby Darnley kickstarted the rally in the 6th with back-to-back bunt singles. Simpson scored on Burko's infield hit to draw MU even.
Between starter Paige Maynard and Jules King in relief, Marshall pitching came up clutch, stranding eight Highlanders. After a leadoff double and two on with one out, King struck out consecutive hitters in the 7th to set up Marshall's second walk-off.
Titi opened the 7th with a double down the line with Sydney Turner reaching base on a walk to set up Simpson's winner.
UP NEXT
Marshall returns home after its first 21 on the road for Marshall March Madness. Akron, Canisius, and Howard will be the three teams joining the Herd. The full schedule can be found, HERE.
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Veal, Maddie (3-2)
L: C. Anders (2-1)
Batting:
3B: Leslie, Diamond 1
HR: Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Burko, Sydni 1
RBI: Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Burko, Sydni 4 ; Simpson, Paige 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gerlach, Bella 3 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Horn, Summer 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1
HBP: Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
Base Running:
CS: A. Noel 1
