Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
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UConn
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Herd Softball Dominates Opening Day Doubleheader With Pair of 10-1 Victories
2/6/2026 5:15:00 PM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Marshall Softball (2-0) stormed out of the gates at the JoAnn Graf Classic, routing UConn and Samford by identical 10-1 scorelines to open the 2026 season. The Herd unleashed four home runs against UConn in the opener and piled on 10 more runs versus Samford, with leadoff Diamond Leslie's 5-for-6 outing and an entire cast leading the way in a dominant start to Head Coach Morgan Zerkle's third season.
"On opening day the Herd looked fast and strong and I'm so proud of how they showed up ready to attack," said Coach Morgan Zerkle.
First Game: Marshall 10, UConn 1
The Herd set the tone early in its opener against UConn as Diamond Leslie crushed a leadoff home run to dead center to open the 2026 season. An inning later, sophomore Ava Blake crushed a liner the opposite way for a two-run blast in what was her first collegiate at-bat.
"To be able to hit a home run on my first collegiate at bat is such a surreal feeling," Blake said. "I've waited so long and worked very hard to get this opportunity, so the fact that I was able to hit a home run as my first at-bat makes it all feel worth it. Going into the game, I felt prepared because our coaches worked hard scouting and instilling confidence into us, so all I had to do was get my pitch and make it happen."
Bella Gerlach added her own two-run blast, helping Marshall jump ahead 5-1 in the 3rd. The home run was Gerlach's first since the 2024 season when she hit 15 to finish 2nd in the Sun Belt Conference.
Leslie finished 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and the Herd's offense tallied 14 hits. Starter Paige Maynard earned the win with four innings, scattering five hits and allowing one run. Maddie Veal earned the save, working three shutout innings and stranding multiple UConn runners to keep the game out of reach.
Marshall will face the defending Big East champions again at the Liberty Invitational later this month.
Second Game: Marshall 10, Samford 1 (5 Innings)
In game two, Samford struck first in the top of the 1st, but Marshall's attack was relentless. Blake answered with a three-run homer in the bottom half, and Tia Titi launched a three-run shot of her own in the 2nd. Titi went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Sydni Burko scored a game-high three runs.
Jules King fired a complete five-inning game, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five as the Herd secured a run-rule victory.
Marshall's offense was explosive across both contests, combining for 25 hits and six home runs. Six different players recorded at least one RBI
Up Next
The Herd continues JoAnn Graf Classic play Saturday with a doubleheader against No. 7 Florida State starting at 3 p.m., followed by a second meeting with the Seminoles to follow.
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Team Stats
Batting:
2B: Hubbard, J. 1
RBI: Phillips, B. 1
SF: Phillips, B. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hubbard, J. 1
HBP: Hubbard, J. 1
Batting:
2B: Gerlach, Bel 1
HR: Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
RBI: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Blake, Ava 3 ; Titi, Tia 3 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gerlach, Bel 2 ; Turner, Sydney 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Burko, Sydni 3 ; Titi, Tia 2 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
SB: Turner, Sydney 1
CS: Leslie, Diamond 1
HBP: Burko, Sydni 1
