HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Marshall unveiled its new softball field Saturday with hundreds on hand for the dedication.

Dot Hicks started the softball program in the 1960s. She was on hand for the home opener of the field that is named after her.

The new Dot Hicks Field is on 3rd Avenue across from Joan C. Edwards Stadium, where Marshall plays their home football games.

"It's pretty exciting for me to know because I spent more than I made the first year because we didn't have any kind of money," Hicks said.

The new complex cost more than $2.5 million. Not all of the construction is finished. The new clubhouse is expected to be completed at the end of the season.

The new field has a field turf playing surface and university officials say it can take on more water, which will avoid more rain delays.

The Herd lost both games of the double-header today to a 23-2 Houston team.

The game recaps are below, provided by Marshall University Sports Information.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (MARSHALL SID) - The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team was held to four runs in two games as the Houston Cougars spoiled the Herd’s home opener, 17-2 in game one and 10-2 in the second game of the doubleheader in Saturday evening’s Conference USA game at Dot Hicks Field.

"The opening ceremonies went really well and it was a great crowd for the grand opening of Dot Hicks Field," Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton said. "When you play a team with the talent of Houston, you better bring your A-game and obviously today we didn’t."

Prior to the game, seven donors, including Dr. Dorothy Hicks, whom the field was named after, were recognized for their generous contribution to the new softball complex.

In game one, Houston (23-2, 2-0 C-USA) scored 17 runs from 15 hits to cruise to victory. The Cougars’ Jessica Valis, Angel Shamblin and Elaina Nordstrom paved the way with three RBIs in the contest. Houston also had six players record two hits.

The Herd (10-14, 2-2) got on the board in the fourth inning when sophomore Caitlyn Jackson recorded a one-out single to center field. A Rachael Sofie walk advanced Jackson to second putting two base runners on for freshman Melanie Stoehr. The Tacoma, Wash., native singled to right field scoring Jackson and placing runners on the corners.

In a pinch-hit situation, Kelly Nielson singled and scored Sofie from third rounding out the Herd’s offensive pursuit.

Houston’s ace Angel Shamblin (13-1) showed why she was awarded the preseason C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year award after pitching all five innings, surrendering four hits and two earned runs.

Marshall’s Caitlyn Jackson (4-8) was credited with the loss after going four innings and gave up 12 runs, three of them earned.

The Cougars jumped out to another lead in the second game of the doubleheader when Laurie Wagner belted a two-run homer to extend Houston’s lead to 3-0 in the first.

The Herd cut the deficit to one in the third inning when junior Rachael Sofie recorded her first home run of the season over the right field wall.

Down 3-2, the Cougars added six innings in fourth, culminated by a Lindsey Klinkert solo homer to left field to increase the Houston lead to 9-2. The Cougars added another run in the fifth to secure the victory when Christa Raley doubled to the gap in right scoring Amanda Grote.

Jackson and Sofie were the only Herd hitters to record hits in the second game, while Barbie Love (7-1) pitched the complete-game five inning effort giving up the two hits.

Pitcher Erin DeStefano (2-3) recorded four strikeouts in five innings, but surrendered 10 runs in the contest.

The Herd and Cougars resume action, Sunday, March 16 at noon. Live streaming of the game can be viewed if an All-Access pass is purchased at www.HerdZone.com. Pictures of the opening day ceremonies along with action shots will be available for purchase at the Marshall official web site.