Marshall University Athletics
No. 23 @HerdSB Racks up Conference USA Awards
5/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Conference USA Release
IRVING, Texas - The 2017 Conference USA Regular Season champions Marshall softball team claimed three of the five specialty awards, while also landing six players named to all-conference teams. Seniors Morgan Zerkle and Jordan Dixon were honored as C-USA Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, while head coach Shonda Stanton was named Coach of the Year.
Along with Zerkle and Dixon, junior catcher Taylor McCord was named First Team All-Conference. Juniors Elicia D'Orazio and Eloise Tribolet were named Second Team All-Conference. Freshman Elizabeth DeShields was honored on the All-Freshman Team.
"It has been an exciting regular season and it is always nice for our student-athletes to receive recognition for their individual performances," Herd coach Stanton said. "Although, our players are more proud of the Top 25 rankings and how Team 24 has elevated our ball club's expectations.
"Our athletes are focused on bringing their best and bringing it often for the team result."
Coach Stanton is Marshall's all-time winningest coach with 558 wins. The Herd finished the regular season 40-8 overall and 20-4 in Conference USA and picked up the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Thundering Herd is ranked 23rd in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and 26th in RPI.
Zerkle is a three-time First Team all-conference member and this was her first Player of the Year Award. Zerkle joins Rachel Folden (2005-08) as Herd players named Conference USA Player of the Year. The Herd garnered the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2004 with Sierra Davenport (2001-04).
Zerkle was named the C-USA preseason player of the year and is a finalist for both the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Senior CLASS Award. The 2017 USA Women's National Team member is second in the country in batting average (.476) and leads the Herd in hits (69) and extra base hits (25). Her 12 doubles, eight home runs and five triples are all career-highs. This season, Zerkle has become Marshall's all-time leader in stolen bases (160) and triples (13). She is second in runs scored (177) and hits (279).
2017 was the first time for Dixon being named First Team all-conference. In 2015, she was a Second Team member and All-Freshman in 2014. Dixon joins Randi Nielson (2002-05) as Herd pitchers named Pitcher of the Year. Dixon is second in the country in wins with 30 and eighth in total strikeouts with 265. The senior ace won 17-straight starts during the season and had a record of 15-2 in conference action. This season, Dixon became the first pitcher in Herd history to reach 100 wins (106), 1,000 strikeouts (1,086) and 1,000 innings pitched (1,031.2).
This is the second-consecutive season for McCord honored as a First Team selection. McCord stepped up tremendously with her bat while continuing her stellar play behind the plate. The junior catcher set career-highs this season in average (.382), hits (52), runs (41), doubles (11), home runs (12), RBIs (50), walks (23) and stolen bases (18). On defense, "The Sniper" has thrown out 15 runners caught stealing and picked off another eight. In the past two seasons, McCord has thrown out 36 potential base stealers.
D'Orazio enjoyed an excellent junior season while garnering her second all-conference selection. The Clermont, Fla., native has been among the nation's leaders in stolen bases all season long and is currently second. She set the Herd single-season record with 53 steals and became the sixth player in program history with over 100 in a career. Along with steals, D'Orazio leads the team in runs scored (48), is second in average (.412), and hits (68). Earlier in the year, she had an on-base streak of 30 consecutive games, scored a run in 18-straight and had a 15-game hitting streak.
Tribolet picks up her first all-conference selection in her first season with the Herd and in Division I. The JUCO transfer is a talented centerfielder and has been batting around .300 in the nine spot. She has made several incredible catches in the outfield while collecting 30 hits, 27 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Tribolet has also been a member of the French National Team since she was 15.
DeShields has provided steady play for the Herd in the middle of the lineup and at first base in her freshman season. Going into the tournament, DeShields is batting .308 with 28 hits, two doubles, one home run and is second on the team with 20 walks. Her on-base percentage is .439 overall and .515 in conference. DeShields finished the regular season with a .983 fielding percentage while starting 36 games at first base.
"We have seen some amazing play from this group," Coach Stanton said. "And we are looking forward to finishing strong."
Marshall plays Thursday, May 11 at 3 p.m. eastern, in the semi-finals of the Conference USA Tournament.
