Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
29-10
Pitt
20-18
Marshall Softball Blanks Pitt, 8-0
4/7/2026 7:00:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — On a day in which Marshall Softball was noted as receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, Marshall Softball won its sixth in a row, defeating Pitt in six innings, 8-0, Tuesday afternoon at Dot Hicks Field. The Herd is now 29-10 on the season before it takes its Sun Belt Conference-leading 10-2 record on the road this weekend.
BELLA 💣 ENDS IT!! pic.twitter.com/t5JCYNz3ZU
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 7, 2026
Marshall pounded out 11 hits with senior Bella Gerlach's RBI double ending the contest in six. Sophomore Maddie Veal pitched her third complete game shutout of the season, limiting the Panthers to a single infield hit in the contest as the Herd reached its 85th win in three seasons under Head Coach Morgan Zerkle.
"Awesome way to execute, any time a team comes to you, you want to prove you are the better team," Coach Zerkle said. "It was nice to see our offense chip away then have the big inning, and Maddie was phenomenal."
For more from Coach Zerkle, Gerlach, and Veal, view HERE.
Gerlach had two runs batted in Tuesday, one of three players to drive in a pair alongside Chandler Hoskins and Ava Blake, who each drove in two in Marshall's four-run 4th. Blake's two-run shot was the sophomore's 12th of the season, tied for 2nd on the team.
SWEEEET AVA BLAKE! 🎶 https://t.co/kuA0yyIN4t pic.twitter.com/yqTT2sZ7w7
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 7, 2026
Since moving to the leadoff spot in the middle game of the Herd's sweep over App State Friday, Hoskins is batting .417 with six RBI.
Haleigh Adkins opened the scoring for the Herd with the first of her team-leading three hits, a RBI double to score Paige Simpson. Adkins is a perfect 6-for-6 in the Herd's two midweek contests at home this season.
Any runs for Veal would have been enough, who struck out six in the complete game shutout. The sophomore has nine victories on the season and her ERA has dropped to 2.88.
Before Gerlach's game-ender in the 6th, sophomore Sydni Burko hammered her team-leading 15th home run in the inning, also Marshall's 70th long ball of the year. Burko had two more hits in the win to propel her average to .392.
HR #15 for Burko! #70 for the Herd in '26! https://t.co/2LGiG6CwB8 pic.twitter.com/CRI0uL2auG
— Marshall Softball (@HerdSB) April 7, 2026
Marshall has won six straight, is 12-0 at Dot Hicks Field, and is 24-3 in its last 27 games.
UP NEXT
The Herd travels to the beach to face Coastal Carolina. The series opener Friday evening is at 6 p.m.
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Veal, Maddie (9-2)
L: Kyra Pittman (7-5)
Batting:
2B: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Gerlach, Bella 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1
HR: Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 1
RBI: Hoskins, Chandler 2 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 2 ; Gerlach, Bella 2 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1
SH: Leslie, Diamond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoskins, Chandler 1 ; Burko, Sydni 1 ; Blake, Ava 2 ; Turner, Sydney 1 ; Simpson, Paige 1 ; Adkins, Haleigh 1 ; Darnley, Abby 1
SB: Blake, Ava 1
