Marshall University Athletics

Saturday, April 18
Huntington, W.Va.
1:00 PM

Marshall University

34-11, 15-2

4
vs
2

South Alabama

26-21, 16-11

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Sydni Burko
Photo by: Austin Ray

Herd Holds Off South Alabama, Wins 10th Consecutive SBC Contest

4/18/2026 4:24:00 PM | Softball

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Softball (34-11, 15-2 SBC) scored a run in each of the first three innings as the Herd held off South Alabama (26-21, 10-7 SBC) and the rain with a 4-2 score.

Junior Haleigh Adkins hit Marshall's 79th home run this season with a solo shot to right in the 2nd. The fifth of the season for Adkins ties a program-record set in 2019 for most home runs hit in a single-season in team history. With the win, MU also set a mark for most-consecutive conference victories with 10, matching a feat first achieved by the 2017 Herd. 

Sophomore Maddie Veal won her 10th game this season and fourth-consecutive decision, pitching the entire game with six strikeouts, five hits allowed, and the two runs given up on a two-run shot with two outs in the 7th. 

When pitching the middle games of a three-game set in conference play this season, Veal is 4-0 with 26 strikeouts across 31 innings and nine runs allowed.

Diamond Leslie opened the scoring in the 1st with an RBI hit up the middle to score Sydni Burko, the third of three hits in the frame with Ava Blake also getting a base knock. Paige Simpson's RBI scored Blake an inning after the Adkins home run, giving Marshall the 3-0 advantage after three.

As the rain came down, Adkins scored on a wild pitch to bring in the team's fourth and pad the lead before the final frame.

Marshall will aim for its third-consecutive series sweep, having already secured the series win as it has done in all six series so far in 2026.

UP NEXT

Game three is set for noon on Sunday.

For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.

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Next Event

South Alabama

Apr 19 (Sun)

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Veal, Maddie (10-2)

L: Sydney Scapin (8-8)

Batting:

2B: Presley Lively 1 ; Caitlyn Gavin 1

3B: Sydney Stewart 1

HR: Kara Wine 1

RBI: Kara Wine 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Sydney Stewart 1 ; Kara Wine 1

Marshall LogoMarshall

Batting:

HR: Adkins, Haleigh 1

RBI: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 2

SB: Leslie, Diamond 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1

HBP: Titi, Tia 1

Game Leaders

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H
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RBI
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AB
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R
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H
1
RBI
1

Players Mentioned

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/ Softball
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle/Abby Darnley (Post-South Alabama G1)
Saturday, April 18
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle and Sydni Burko (Post-Coastal Carolina)
Sunday, April 12
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle, Maddie Veal, Bella Gerlach (Post-Pitt)
Tuesday, April 07
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle/Ava Blake (Post-App State)
Saturday, April 04