Marshall University Athletics
Zerkle Named Conference USA Player of the Week
3/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
IRVING, Texas - Senior shortstop Morgan Zerkle was named Conference USA Player of the Week for the second time this season, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
"Zerkle had an incredible week," head coach Shonda Stanton said. "She keeps showing the special caliber athlete she is by hitting the long ball, dropping the bunt single, taking the next 60 feet and coming up clutch to drive in game winning runs."
The Milton, W.Va., native hit .615 and slugged .923 over the Herd's four wins at UNC Greensboro and a three-game sweep of WKU at home. Marshall continued its win streak to a program record 15 games, thanks in large part to the production of its senior shortstop.
Zerkle began the week going 3-for-4 with two runs at UNCG in helping lead Marshall to a 13-3, five-inning win. She was the first to score in the game for Marshall in the first inning to help get the offense in gear.
Back at Dot Hicks Field against WKU, Zerkle finished the weekend with five clutch hits that culminated in a 3-for-3 performance with the go-ahead three-RBI double in the final game. In game two on Saturday, Zerkle hit a sac fly to left that drove in the first run for Marshall as the Herd was trailing 2-0. In the bottom of the fifth, she led off with a single and later scored that helped get a three-run inning going for the Herd to take the lead. In the sixth, Zerkle reached on an error and scored as Marshall added five more insurance runs.
In the Sunday series finale, Zerkle reached base every time she stepped to the plate. She got Marshall on the board first with a solo home run to lead off the third. In the fifth, Zerkle led off with a walk and later scored on a sac fly to tie the game at 3-3 just before a 45-minute rain delay. In the sixth, Zerkle stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered with a double to center that drove in all three runs, broke the tie, and helped Marshall to its 15th straight win.
Zerkle is batting .462 for the season with 43 hits and 31 runs scored. Of her 43 hits, 13 have gone for extra bases with six doubles, four home runs and three triples. The senior is second on the team with 29 stolen bases.
The Thundering Herd will step back on the field Tuesday, March 28, at home for a single game with Morehead State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Marshall will get back into Conference USA play Saturday, April 1 at Southern Miss.
