Marshall University Athletics
Friday, February 8
San Diego, Calif.
2:00 PM
Marshall University
vs
California Riverside
Photo by: Mark Webb
Softball Ready to Begin the 2019 Season in San Diego
2/7/2019 9:50:00 PM | Softball
Thundering Herd to play UC-Riverside, San Diego, Cal Poly and Portland State
Game Notes
Marshall Radio
Facebook Live
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SAN DIEGO – The Marshall softball team begins play in the 2019 season at the USD Tournament, Feb. 8-10, hosted by the University of San Diego.
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The Thundering Herd takes the field against UC-Riverside, San Diego, Cal Poly and Portland State. Marshall takes on UC-Riverside on Feb. 8 (2 p.m. ET) and Feb. 9 (10 p.m. ET). The Herd plays San Diego on Feb. 8 (7 p.m. ET), against Cal Poly on Feb. 9 (2:30 p.m. ET) and Portland State on Feb. 10 (12 p.m. ET)
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The games will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM and streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul. The contests will also be simulcast on Facebook Live through the team's page, Marshall University Softball.
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Brand New Coaching Staff
Marshall softball marches into the 2019 season with its second new coaching staff in as many years. Megan Smith takes over the program after spending the past nine years as the head coach at Kansas University. Smith led the Jayhawks to six-consecutive 30 win seasons as well as back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015. Marshall's fourth head coach in program history has had head coaching stops at Young Harris (JUCO) in 2001-02 and started the Western Carolina program in 2005. The Catamounts first season of play in 2006 resulted in a 41-20 record, the Southern Conference Regular Season Title, the SoCon Pitcher of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Smith was named Coach of the Year. After leaving Western Carolina, Smith was an assistant for three years at LSU that included an SEC title and a trip to the World Series.
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Joining Coach Smith are assistants Corey Lyon and Maddie Holub. Former Herd player and Warrior Award winner Madi Marshall joins the staff as the Director of Operations.
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Coach Lyon comes to Huntington after four seasons as the head coach at UL-Monroe where he won 111 games. The Warhawks had two 30+ win seasons during his tenure and finished second in the nation in stolen bases in 2015 with 143, ten thefts behind Marshall.
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Coach Holub joins the Marshall staff after four seasons as the pitching coach at Saint Leo University (Division II) in Florida. Holub worked her pitching staffs into some of the best in Division II as Saint Leo never won fewer than 37 games during her time. Her pitching staff never had a group ERA higher than 2.04 and won the National Statistical championship in 2016 with a team ERA of a mere 0.93.
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Sophomore Aly Harrell Named Preseason All-Conference
The reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Aly Harrell, was the only Herd player named to the Preseason All-Conference squad. Harrell smashed a program rookie record of 11 home runs last season and added 10 doubles. She led the team with 41 RBI, the fourth most by a freshman in program history, and tied for the team lead with a .350 average. While able to bash the ball, Harrell showed a lot of patience as a freshman hitter with 23 walks, seven hit-by-pitches and struck out just nine times in 152 plate appearances. Harrell even set a Marshall record by drawing a walk in eight-straight games, breaking the old mark of seven set by four-time All-American Rachel Folden in 2008. The now sophomore is also an excellent fielder as she sported a .986 percentage in 21 games as the starter at first base. She had just two errors in 144 chances.
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Herd Welcomes Eight Newcomers
Along with a new coaching staff, the players who will have a chance to try and fill those shoes of the graduated seniors are eight new faces with three transfers and five freshmen. Senior outfielder Hannah Giammarino came over from Bowling Green for her final season and played high school and travel ball with now fellow classmate Hayden Ellis. Junior infielder Brooke Burns comes the Herd after two seasons at UNC, and is a former finalist for South Carolina State (HS) Player of the Year. Junior infielder Sierra Huerta makes the jump east after spending two incredible seasons at Moorpark College in California.
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The freshman class includes a range of athletes in outfielder Carson Lyon (Monroe, La.), outfielder Chloe Lee (Tampa, Fla.), outfielder Rachel Pennington (West Hamlin, W.Va.), catcher Caitlin Myers (Charles Town, W.Va.) and pitcher Mya Stevenson (Mesquite, Texas). All five received numerous accolades during their prep careers and even walking away with school records.
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For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.
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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Â
Marshall Radio
Facebook Live
Â
SAN DIEGO – The Marshall softball team begins play in the 2019 season at the USD Tournament, Feb. 8-10, hosted by the University of San Diego.
Â
The Thundering Herd takes the field against UC-Riverside, San Diego, Cal Poly and Portland State. Marshall takes on UC-Riverside on Feb. 8 (2 p.m. ET) and Feb. 9 (10 p.m. ET). The Herd plays San Diego on Feb. 8 (7 p.m. ET), against Cal Poly on Feb. 9 (2:30 p.m. ET) and Portland State on Feb. 10 (12 p.m. ET)
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The games will be broadcast on 88.1 WMUL-FM and streamed online at www.marshall.edu/wmul. The contests will also be simulcast on Facebook Live through the team's page, Marshall University Softball.
Â
Brand New Coaching Staff
Marshall softball marches into the 2019 season with its second new coaching staff in as many years. Megan Smith takes over the program after spending the past nine years as the head coach at Kansas University. Smith led the Jayhawks to six-consecutive 30 win seasons as well as back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015. Marshall's fourth head coach in program history has had head coaching stops at Young Harris (JUCO) in 2001-02 and started the Western Carolina program in 2005. The Catamounts first season of play in 2006 resulted in a 41-20 record, the Southern Conference Regular Season Title, the SoCon Pitcher of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Smith was named Coach of the Year. After leaving Western Carolina, Smith was an assistant for three years at LSU that included an SEC title and a trip to the World Series.
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Joining Coach Smith are assistants Corey Lyon and Maddie Holub. Former Herd player and Warrior Award winner Madi Marshall joins the staff as the Director of Operations.
Â
Coach Lyon comes to Huntington after four seasons as the head coach at UL-Monroe where he won 111 games. The Warhawks had two 30+ win seasons during his tenure and finished second in the nation in stolen bases in 2015 with 143, ten thefts behind Marshall.
Â
Coach Holub joins the Marshall staff after four seasons as the pitching coach at Saint Leo University (Division II) in Florida. Holub worked her pitching staffs into some of the best in Division II as Saint Leo never won fewer than 37 games during her time. Her pitching staff never had a group ERA higher than 2.04 and won the National Statistical championship in 2016 with a team ERA of a mere 0.93.
Â
Sophomore Aly Harrell Named Preseason All-Conference
The reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Aly Harrell, was the only Herd player named to the Preseason All-Conference squad. Harrell smashed a program rookie record of 11 home runs last season and added 10 doubles. She led the team with 41 RBI, the fourth most by a freshman in program history, and tied for the team lead with a .350 average. While able to bash the ball, Harrell showed a lot of patience as a freshman hitter with 23 walks, seven hit-by-pitches and struck out just nine times in 152 plate appearances. Harrell even set a Marshall record by drawing a walk in eight-straight games, breaking the old mark of seven set by four-time All-American Rachel Folden in 2008. The now sophomore is also an excellent fielder as she sported a .986 percentage in 21 games as the starter at first base. She had just two errors in 144 chances.
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Herd Welcomes Eight Newcomers
Along with a new coaching staff, the players who will have a chance to try and fill those shoes of the graduated seniors are eight new faces with three transfers and five freshmen. Senior outfielder Hannah Giammarino came over from Bowling Green for her final season and played high school and travel ball with now fellow classmate Hayden Ellis. Junior infielder Brooke Burns comes the Herd after two seasons at UNC, and is a former finalist for South Carolina State (HS) Player of the Year. Junior infielder Sierra Huerta makes the jump east after spending two incredible seasons at Moorpark College in California.
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The freshman class includes a range of athletes in outfielder Carson Lyon (Monroe, La.), outfielder Chloe Lee (Tampa, Fla.), outfielder Rachel Pennington (West Hamlin, W.Va.), catcher Caitlin Myers (Charles Town, W.Va.) and pitcher Mya Stevenson (Mesquite, Texas). All five received numerous accolades during their prep careers and even walking away with school records.
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For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.
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To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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---HerdZone.com---
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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