Marshall University Athletics
Zerkle Named C-USA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Conference USA Release
RIVING, Texas - Marshall softball senior Morgan Zerkle was named the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year the league office announced Wednesday. The Herd had four players named to the Preseason All-Conference squad and was picked to finish third by the league's coaches.
Marshall's senior group of Zerkle, Jordan Dixon and Shaelynn Braxton along with junior Taylor McCord were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team. The Herd had the second most players selected just one behind Florida Atlantic. The Owls were picked to finish first.
"It is always nice for our student-athletes to be recognized," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "We have been telling this group with the attention Z (Morgan Zerkle) has garnered, people are going to take notice and when they do they will see the special caliber of athlete we have across the board in our program.
"McCord has one of the best arms in the country, Dixon has been a workhorse on the mound and welcome back Shae Braxton. She has been such a boost elevating the intensity of our training and being a positive influence on her teammates."
This past season, Zerkle finished second on the Herd batting .482, 54 hits including two home runs, 28 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. The senior from Milton, W.Va., missed 22 games due to a mid-season injury. Late in the season, Zerkle became the fastest player in Marshall history to record 200 career hits in just her 137th game.
In 2016, Jordan Dixon won more than 20 games (23) for the third time in her career as well as over 200 strikeouts (268) for the third time. The Herd ace took over the top spot on the Marshall career strikeout chart as she passed Andi Williamson (2011-13) against Wright State. Dixon has over 800 career Ks going into her senior season.
Shaelynn Braxton missed the 2016 season but returns to the Herd as one the program's best sluggers. Braxton is one of just two players to drive in over 50 runs in two seasons. Four-time All-American Rachel Folden is the other. As a junior in 2015, Braxton drove in a team-high 56 runs, hit .336 and had 50 hits including 16 for extra bases (11 doubles and five home runs). She finished fourth on the team with a career-best 20 stolen bases.
Taylor McCord emerged as one of the top catchers in 2016 as she established a team record 21 runners caught stealing and picked off six more. McCord finished with a team best .992 fielding percentage as she committed only three errors while starting in 55 of the Herd's 56 games. She stepped up on the offensive side as well with a career-high .301 batting average, 47 hits, nine doubles and 33 RBIs.
"As the saying goes, 'players win games, teams win championships'," coach Stanton said. "Our staff is excited about the skillset with our individual players and we look forward to seeing them continue to develop as Team 24 and take the field against a very competitive C-USA softball league.
"We will be challenged from the very beginning opening up at Florida State so we will continue emphasize the importance of starting fast, playing hard, and finishing strong."
The Herd will open the 2017 season at the Unconquered Invitational hosted by Florida State. Marshall will take on the Seminoles, Lipscomb and Furman over the three-day tournament. Conference USA play begins March 11-12 as the Herd welcomes the UTSA Roadrunners to Dot Hicks Field for a three-game series.
For more information on Marshall softball, follow the team on twitter @HerdSB or follow them on Facebook at Marshall University Softball.
