Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
26-10, 8-2
App State
23-11, 4-6
Herd Softball Wins Series Opener Over App State, 3-1
4/2/2026 9:08:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Softball (26-10, 8-2 SBC) remained perfect at home and continued its winning ways with a 3-1 victory over App State (23-11, 4-6 SBC) in Thursday evening's series opener at Dot Hicks Field.
The battle of the league's top two home run hitting teams lived up to the billing, as the Herd scored its three on a trio of solo shots. The Mountaineers led off the game with a homer from the league's leader, before Herd pitching shut down the visitors.
It was fun, they scored first with a home run but we came back with two and then got a third one later, Head Coach Morgan Zerkle said. That was fun to see our team fight offensively and have some of those big hits and for our pitchers to both do well against a good offense and that is what you want.
For more from Coach Zerkle and Tia Titi, view HERE.
Chandler Hoskins and Ava Blake hit back-to-back two out shots in the bottom of the opening frame, Marshall's third time hitting back-to-back home runs this season. For Hoskins, it is the redshirt-sophomore's third straight game with a home run at Dot Hicks Field. The opposite field blast from Blake matches her with Bella Gerlach with 11 on the team.
Ava making sure the tailgates are well stocked! 🥎 https://t.co/ZQrzKLa4DB pic.twitter.com/ZDWHc6Da4Y
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 2, 2026
Sophomore Tia Titi added a solo shot in the 2nd. She led the team Thursday with two hits in three at-bats.
TIA TIME!!
Herd's third solo shot of the day makes it 3-1! pic.twitter.com/Ngru3s3Zbh— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 2, 2026
Starter Paige Maynard earned the win, shutting down the Mountaineers after the opening at-bat with 4.2 IP and just three hits total, striking out four. Maynard was able to work around five walks, including getting out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the 3rd. The senior successfully stranded eight on base.
Jules King took over for Maynard mid-batter in the 5th, finishing the inning and the final two innings to get her fifth save of the season, a new single-season program-high.
The Herd has held its opponent to a single run in three-consecutive contests and in five of its eight conference wins with a sixth league win coming in shutout fashion.
At 8-2, the Herd takes sole possession of first place in the SBC after Thursday's results.
UP NEXT
Game two is at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, a time change moved up from its originally scheduled time.
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 (7-3)
L: Sophie Moshos (9-6)
S: King, Jules (5)
Batting:
HR: Makayla McClain 1
RBI: Makayla McClain 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Makayla McClain 1
SB: Julia Girk 1
HBP: Kendall Bradshaw 1
Batting:
2B: Titi, Tia 1
HR: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
RBI: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Blake, Ava 1 ; Titi, Tia 1
SB: Blake, Ava 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
HBP: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1
