Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Harrell, Stevenson bring power to Herd lineup
3/28/2019 10:36:00 PM | Softball, Word on the Herd
Freshman is threatening teammate's home run record
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – In her first collegiate season, Aly Harrell commanded respect as a power hitter by setting Marshall's freshman record for home runs with 11. The walks prove it.
Harrell, now a sophomore, has been given a free pass to first base 29 times in 31 games – seventh in Division I softball in walks per game. Harrell's rookie record for round-trippers might not last a year, and she's OK with that. The native of Gahanna, Ohio, would much rather touch 'em all, and Herd freshman Mya Stevenson could soon give Harrell more opportunities.
Stevenson has the attention of opposing pitchers with eight home runs. Because first-year coach Megan Smith bats Stevenson behind Harrell in the lineup, opponents might soon reconsider giving Stevenson an extra baserunner she can drive in.
"That's the key," Smith said. "Having Mya behind Aly makes people think twice about pitching around Aly. Mya stepping up and doing so early is causing other teams to throw to Aly, which is what we want. Mya has given her some big protection. We have two weapons that they have to think about and focus on."
Harrell and Stevenson are Marshall's top two hitters – literally. Stevenson ranks first on the team in batting average at .321, while Harrell is second at .311. Harrell leads the team in home runs with nine, while Stevenson is second with eight. Harrell has a team-leading 28 RBIs, while Stevenson has knocked in 25. They're the only two players on the team with an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) above 1.000, and a slugging percentage above .600.
In terms of slugging, Harrell and Stevenson are actually at the top of Conference USA, too. Harrell ranks first at .743, while Stevenson is third at .702. For perspective on those lofty slugging percentages, only four players in Marshall softball history have recorded a single season slugging percentage of .700 or better: Rachel Folden (three times), Morgan Zerkle (2017), Shaelynn Braxton (2014) and Harrell (last season).
"They won't throw to Aly and I'm like 'how rude – I'll hit!" Stevenson said. "They didn't want to pitch to you, so I got you."
Charlotte learned the hard way in a March 16 doubleheader. Stevenson finished the day 7-for-7 with nine RBIs, and recorded the first cycle in Marshall softball history. In the fifth inning of the first game, Charlotte walked Harrell to get to Stevenson, and Stevenson promptly blasted a home run. In the first inning of the second game, the same scenario played out: Harrell walked; Stevenson homered. In the next inning, Harrell walked and Stevenson settled for a double.
"It's nice because she's like a mini me," Harrell said. "In case they decide to walk me, she's right behind me to be able to score me."
Harrell began playing softball at 8 years old, first for the Ohio Dragons and then the Ohio Hawks. She is already climbing up the career rankings for home runs, and she has two full seasons after 2019.
"I felt pretty confident coming in with my ability," she said. "I didn't really try to get too confident; I just stayed within myself."
Stevenson was spotted in a tournament in California, and decided to visit campus and "fell in love with the atmosphere," she said. The native of Mesquite, Texas, found her way into the heart of the Herd's order in no time.
"Mya came in as a highly touted recruit," Smith said. "She had a phenomenal prep career in high school and summer ball. She is a talented player. I'm certainly not surprised. As a freshman, she had a lot of growing pains in the fall. She's still going through that now. Her ceiling is really high. She hasn't come close to where she's going to be.
"It's exciting to watch her work. As a coach, it's exciting to watch her work through being a freshman and figuring out college softball because it's different."
Harrell homered at James Madison on Wednesday to pull ahead of Stevenson. The back-and-forth competition motivates both players.
"I want to be able to help my team any way that I can," Stevenson said. "If the ball happens to go out, it happens to go out. So far, it's good seeing me and Aly up there in the rankings. I'm glad to be the person who can protect her."
Smith is too. Marshall, which finished last season four games under .500, is 21-11 entering this weekend's three-game series at Southern Miss. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2 p.m., and then wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Combined, Harrell and Stevenson have five full seasons after 2019 to anchor the middle of Smith's lineup.
"Both obviously are talented, but they both have really big personalities," Smith said. "They feed off of each other. They get along really well. They're always positive in the dugout. They lead the cheers. They keep things light. They're also the ones we ask to come up clutch in some big situations. They both, as young players, have done a pretty good job of doing that overall.
"The awesome thing about it is you have a sophomore and a freshman doing that," Smith added. "They're in the middle of our order. They're super talented and powerful. Both are athletic. It's going to be awesome to see them through their careers together, and be the foundation of our offense."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a seven-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
