Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
32-10, 13-2
Coastal Carolina
22-22, 6-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 0 |
| Coastal | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
Herd Completes Sweep of Coastal Carolina with Season-High 15 Runs
4/12/2026 4:25:00 PM | Softball
CONWAY, S.C. — Marshall Softball won its ninth straight game, and 27th of its last 30 with a 15-7 victory to sweep Coastal Carolina. The Herd pounded out a season-high 15 runs with a season-best 17 hits.
The Herd (32-10, 13-2 SBC) has a two-game lead in the conference standings. Coach Morgan Zerkle's side is up to 20 in RPI at the conclusion of its victory Sunday. The 32 wins are the most in a season for MU under Coach Zerkle.
"Coastal is a really good offensive team so we knew we were going to have to outslug them but we also knew we had a stronger pitching staff," Coach Zerkle said. "It was good to see the team work together this weekend, it was a lot of team wins. Different people excelled against different types of pitching, they threw six different pitchers at us and we scored on every one. Seeing them come together and know their strengths and know when it's their opportunity to contribute, and for pitchers to work together as well, it was a really great weekend."
With the 17 hits, the Herd had no shortage of offensive heroes. Junior Haleigh Adkins had four hits in five at-bats, matching a career-best. Sophomore Tia Titi went 1-for-1 with a RBI double and four walks, matching a Marshall single-game program record achieved six times prior. Sydni Burko, Abby Darnley, and Chandler Hoskins all had mult-hit games in addition to Adkins. Burko, the team's leader in average (.412), home runs (16) and RBI (36) drove in four Sunday.
Sydni "Sydni Burko" Burko 🤩🤩🤩 https://t.co/U1LGFD7BzM pic.twitter.com/q7t0awT5Kv
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 12, 2026
"I think we had a great weekend on both sides of the ball," said Burko. "I think our pitchers handled them well, they are a good hitting team, but our pitchers are lock-down and great and our defense has their backs too. Offensively, we feed off of each other, we have great conversations in the dugout, when one goes we all go top-to-bottom."
Burko went 7-for-11 from the plate in the three-game sweep, driving in five. For more from Coach Zerkle and Burko, view HERE.
Saturday's hero, sophomore Ava Blake started the scoring in the 1st with a solo shot to left after her three-run shot lifted Marshall to the comeback victory in the middle game of the series. After a Coastal solo homer tied things after the opening inning, Marshall drew separation with its five-run 2nd.
Starter Paige Maynard earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings while Jules King earned her sixth save of 2026, finishing the final three frames. The duo combined to strike out three while containing the Chanticleer offense and keeping the Herd in front.
Any moment where the home-side drew close, Marshall had a response. The final knockout blow came with a five-run 7th. A pinch-running Sydney Turner scampered home on a wild pitch. Bella Gerlach and Paige Simpson would also score on defensive miscues before Hoskins hit a two-run shot to seal it.
Game broken WIDE OPEN!! 💥
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 12, 2026
Chandler Hoskins with the two-run shot to give us a season-high 1️⃣5️⃣ runs!! pic.twitter.com/Eo9hN9monJ
Marshall's nine-game winning streak is the fifth-longest current streak in the nation.
UP NEXT
The Herd plays a midweek at Ohio on Wednesday, Apr. 15. First pitch in Athens is scheduled for 5:30 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: Maynard, Paige (10-3)
L: Kate Ryan (5-1)
S: King, Jules (6)
Batting:
2B: Titi, Tia 1
3B: Leslie, Diamond 1
HR: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 1
RBI: Hoskins, Chandler 3 ; Burko, Sydni 4 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1
SH: Simpson, Paige 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoskins, Chandler 2 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 2 ; Taylor, Makayla 1 ; Turner, Sydney 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Leslie, Diamond 2 ; Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Darnley, Abby 2 ; Horn, Summer 1
SB: Taylor, Makayla 1 ; Gerlach, Bella 1
CS: Burko, Sydni 1
HBP: Simpson, Paige 1
Batting:
HR: Georgia Hood 2 ; Kaelin Cash 1 ; Livi Payne 1
RBI: Georgia Hood 3 ; Kaelin Cash 3 ; Livi Payne 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Delaney Keith 1 ; Georgia Hood 3 ; Brie Normandin 1 ; Kaelin Cash 1 ; Livi Payne 1
