Marshall University Athletics
Zerkle Named CoSIDA Academic All-America
5/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CoSIDA Academic All-America Teams
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall softball senior shortstop Morgan Zerkle continues to add to her impressive resume as she was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division I First Team. The teams are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
CoSIDA recognizes softball players throughout the country for all divisions for their academic success and their play on the field. Zerkle was previously named a second team academic all-america as a sophomore in 2015.
"Zerkle is the epitome of the student-athlete and a special young woman," Herd head coach Shonda Stanton said. "She is deserving of this honor and stands strong with the best and brightest players on the national softball landscape."
Zerkle has a 3.72 cumulative grade point average as a clinical exercise physiology major. The Milton, W.Va. native began her senior season named to the 2017 USA Women's National Team. Zerkle then followed up with an incredible senior season becoming Marshall's all-time leader in stolen bases (162) and triples (14). She broke the Herd single-season record with six triples and tied the team, and Conference USA, single-game record with five stolen bases against Delaware State (March 5).
She led the team with a .476 average, 79 hits, 131 total bases and 28 extra base hits (13 doubles, nine home runs and six triples). Zerkle slugged .789 and had an on base percentage of .508. She ended the year with a 17-game hitting streak, hit a three-run home run in her final home plate appearance and hit her record-breaking sixth triple in her final at-bat for Marshall.
Zerkle was named the Conference USA Player of the Year, first team all-conference, finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, NFCA Mideast All-Region first team and selected by the Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF).
All while performing on the field and helping to lead Marshall to a program-record 42 wins and a NCAA Tournament berth, Zerkle kept her GPA high and graduated this spring from Marshall. The 2016 Miss Marshall has a big presence in the community as Zerkle has been willing to spend her time off the field with many youth softball players and other community projects.
