Marshall Softball Preview
By Shane Darling, FM88 Sports
March 9, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) — Marshall March Madness kept trucking on throughout Saturday afternoon, where Marshall softball (8-11) took on the Valparaiso Beacons (9-7) and the Buffalo Bulls (3-14).
The Thundering Herd started off by defeating the Beacons by mercy rule in a 13-5 five inning game. Second baseman Brooklyn Ulrich, the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, started the game hot for the Herd with a lead-off home run to left-center field. The Herd would go on to take a 5-0 lead in the first two innings with home runs from Abby Darnley and Kasia Parks, but Valparaiso battled back to get within one, 5-4.
Marshall scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the deal and end the game early. Paige Maynard was in the circle for the Herd, throwing 3.2 innings and letting up two earned runs (four total) on five hits.
The Buffalo Bulls came out stomping in Marshall’s second matchup of the day, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning. Marshall buckled down and combined for four doubles and a home run, propelling itself to nine unanswered runs for a 9-4 win. Chandler Hoskins roped two of those doubles, with Parks hitting the long ball. Maddie Veal accumulated the win in the circle, throwing a dominant 5.2 innings with only two hits and no runs given up.
This two-game sweep brings the Herd to 10-11 overall and a four-game win streak with all four wins coming at Dot Hicks Field’s Marshall March Madness series.
Marshall wraps up the weekend with games against Loyola Chicago at 1:30 p.m. and Valparaiso at 4 p.m.
You can tune in to Sunday’s games from Dot Hicks Field right here on WMUL-FM 88.1 or by visiting our website marshall.edu/wmul. FM88 Sports’ Ethan Peltier will be on the call for game one against the Loyola Chicago for a 1:15 p.m. pregame and 1:30 p.m. start. FM88 Sports’ Ben Anderson will have the call for game two against the Valparaiso Beacons with coverage beginning at 3:45 p.m. and first pitch slated for 4 p.m.