Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
20-9, 3-1
Georgia Southern
12-16, 1-3
Eight-Run 1st Inning Lifts Herd to Victory in Series Opener
3/20/2026 10:02:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Softball attacked for eight runs in the opening frame to down Georgia Southern Friday evening at Dot Hicks Field, 11-6. Head Coach Morgan Zerkle's team earned win number 20 on the season.
"It was fun to see that offensive explosion early on that we were looking for," Head Coach Morgan Zerkle said. "I thought [the team] prepared very well all week so it was good to see that come to fruition."
After the Eagles struck for a run to open the game, the Herd wasted no time in the bottom of the opening inning with a Bella Gerlach leadoff walk before Sydni Burko's 11th home run of 2026. Four additional walks, an Abby Darnley bases-clearing double and Gerlach's opposite field shot for her 11th capped the massive 1st for the Herd.
In play, run(s) pic.twitter.com/SbaiqmFs7v
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) March 20, 2026
"I think we just have a great lineup top-to-bottom," said Burko. "Bella does a great job getting on base and I just love being behind her and then I know everyone behind me has my back. We just feed off each other so it's a good feeling."
For Coach Zerkle, Sydni Burko, and Jules King, view HERE.
Sophomore Maddie Veal earned her sixth win in the circle with five complete innings. Veal's streak of four-consecutive appearances allowing a run or less was snapped, but she did strike out a career-high seven for the second-consecutive outing.
Junior Jules King finished out the game with two scoreless innings on her birthday. King struck out an additional three marking the sixth game this season Herd pitching has struck out 10 or more.
Following the eight-run opening inning, Ava Blake followed suit with a two-run shot in the 2nd. With Blake's ninth of the year, the trio of Gerlach, Burko and Blake have combined for 31 home runs this season.
UP NEXT
Game two between the Herd and Eagles is at 3 p.m. Saturday from Dot Hicks Field.
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Veal, Maddie (6-2)
L: Alana Barnard (3-8)
Batting:
2B: Delanie Thames 1 ; Emma Davis 1
RBI: Delanie Thames 3 ; Emma Davis 1 ; Valerie Combs 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kayla Christensen 2 ; Jaycee Bilbrey 1 ; Delanie Thames 1 ; Emma Davis 1 ; Brooke Kell 1
SB: Kayla Christensen 1
Batting:
2B: Darnley, Abby 1
HR: Gerlach, Bella 1 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 1
RBI: Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Burko, Sydni 2 ; Blake, Ava 2 ; Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Darnley, Abby 3
SH: Leslie, Diamond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Taylor, Makayla 1 ; Blake, Ava 2 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1
CS: Blake, Ava 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
HBP: Gerlach, Bella 1
