Marshall University Athletics
Zerkle Named Conference USA Co-Player of the Week
3/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
IRVING, Texas - Senior shortstop Morgan Zerkle was named Conference USA Co-Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. Zerkle shared the weekly award with Lindsay Gregory of North Texas.
"Zerkle was a lot of fun to watch play this weekend," Herd coach Shonda Stanton said. "As I have said before, she is tough to defend with her skill set. She did a great job of reading what the defense gave her and played to her strengths."
Zerkle exploded for a record-breaking weekend for the Thundering Herd at the Eagle Classic batting .647, slugging .882 and stealing 12 bases - at least one steal in each game - as the Herd went 5-0. She set the Marshall program record for career stolen bases that is now up to 146, tied the career record for triples (that has been held since 1998 by Cristy Waring) with her 10th, tied the single-game record with five stolen bases against Delaware State and moved into fourth place all-time on Marshall's career hit list with 238. Zerkle increased her season batting average from .386 to .459 while currently on a six-game hitting streak.
The Milton, W.Va., native began the weekend by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases versus South Carolina State. In game two against Presbyterian, Zerkle recorded just one hit but stole both second and third before being driven home for the Herd's second run of the game.
Saturday versus Eastern Kentucky, Zerkle helped to put away the Colonels with a three RBI double in the second inning to give Marshall a 5-1 lead. In the nightcap against the host school Georgia Southern, Zerkle helped Marshall get on the scoreboard first with a RBI double in the third inning. In the fifth, Zerkle got on with her second hit, stole second and then scored on a three-run home run to put the Herd up 5-0.
For the final game of the weekend against Delaware State is when Zerkle was at her best. She went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and recorded five steals out of Marshall's team, and Conference USA, record-breaking 16 stolen bases. It was the second highest single-game total in NCAA history and just one away from the record of 17 by Nicholls State in 1994. Zerkle also recorded her 10th career triple against the Hornets, as the defense was creeping in expecting another bunt, the senior ripped a line drive over the shortstop's head into the left center gap. Three batters later she scored her 150th run of her career, third all-time at Marshall.
The Thundering Herd continues the season with its home and Conference USA opener, March 11-12, against the UTSA Roadrunners. The doubleheader Saturday, March 11, begins at 1 p.m. and the single game Sunday is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start.
