Huntington, WV-The Cleveland State softball team fell to Marshall in the opening game of Thundering Herd March Madness on Thursday afternoon in six innings by a final score of 9-1. 

The host Thundering Herd scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Vikings responded with a run in the top of the second to cut into the deficit.

Back-to-back walks by Sophie Spellman and Kennedy Steinbacher put runners on first and second with one out. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, a passed ball scored Spellman to make it 2-1. 

Marshall responded with a single run in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1, and the Vikings mustered just two hits the rest of the way. Marshall scored in every inning but one and ended the game with three runs in the sixth inning for the 9-1 final score. 

The Vikings fall to 4-12 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow with two games. The Vikes take on Rider at 9:00 a.m. and later will face Winthrop at 3:00 p.m.