Marshall University Athletics
Softball Lands Three on Preseason All-Conference USA Team
2/8/2022 2:22:00 PM | Softball
Herd picked fifth in coaches’ poll
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall softball team had three players with Aly Harrell, Saige Pye and Mya Stevenson selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team, the league office announced on Tuesday.
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All three players were selected prior to the 2021 season as well. The Herd was picked to finish fifth overall in the coaches' poll.
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Harrell enters her fifth season at Marshall after being granted the additional year with the 2020 COVID season. Harrell led the Herd in 2021 in batting average (.415), hits (39), home runs (10), RBI (29), total bases (77), slugging percentage (.819) and on base percentage (.526). The power hitter with the great eye at the plate, struck out only three times in 94 at bats over 30 games played in 2021. The Gahanna, Ohio, native continued her assault on the Marshall record books as well, ranking in the top 10 all-time in 11 offensive categories and three defensive. Harrell is tops all-time in career on base percentage at .547. She is second in walks (131) to four-time All-American Rachel Folden (2005-08). Harrell was named First Team All-C-USA and First Team All-Mideast Region.
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Harrell and Stevenson have been in a friendly battle, rising up the home run charts as both players set their sights on Folden's record of 58. Harrell and Stevenson ended the 2021 season with 40 homers each, good for second all-time. Harrell hit her 40th of her career at Charlotte on May 8, with a two-run blast to right field. Stevenson launched two shots in the Conference USA Tournament to catch back up and tie Harrell once again.
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Stevenson was one of just two players to play in all 33 games last season, starting in 32. She struggled early but exploded in conference play. Stevenson ended the season batting .293 with 29 hits, 27 runs scored (led team), eight doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBI and slugged .616. During the 16 league games in 2021, the slugger hit .385 with 20 hits, 13 runs, seven doubles, three homers and slugged .692. Along with being tied for second all-time at Marshall in home runs, Stevenson's name can also be found throughout the record book. The Mesquite, Texas, native enters her fourth season second in slugging percentage (.755). Last year Stevenson became the 13th member of the Marshall 100 RBI Club, with a bomb at Chattanooga and currently as 114 good for 10th. She was named Second Team All-C-USA in 2021.
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Pye enters her third season with the Herd and her fifth year of collegiate action, also being granted the extra year after the 2020 COVID season. Pye's bat has been a key factor in Marshall's offense since she transferred to Huntington before the 2020 season from Georgia Tech. Last season, Pye hit .395 with 34 hits, 14 runs, five doubles, six home runs, 23 RBI, slugged .663 and had a .459 on base percentage. The Stockton, California, native also went off in league action beginning with a great series against Florida Atlantic. In the three games played, Pye hit .462 (6-of-13) with nine RBI. She tied the program single-game record with three doubles in game three of the series, and her third double drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Harrell won it in the ninth. Pye had a 12-game hitting streak toward the end of the season and reached base safely in the final 18 games. She was named First Team All-C-USA and Third Team All-Mideast Region.
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Marshall begins the 2022 season Feb. 11-13 at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted by Georgia Tech. The Herd will take on Saint Joseph's, Villanova and Georgia Tech. Marshall's 2022 season schedule features 23 home games as well, its most at Dot Hicks Field since 2012 (24).
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2022 PRESEASON SOFTBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte (SR., Catcher/Outfielder)
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PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Shelby Nunn, WKU (Fifth Year SR., RHP)
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PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Pitcher: Janie Worthington, North Texas
Pitcher: Corrina Dodd, Middle Tennessee
Pitcher: Shelby Nunn, WKU
Catcher: Sierra Frazier, UAB
Catcher: Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte
Infielder: Aly Harrell, Marshall
Infielder: Tata Davis, Southern Miss
Infielder: Cori Henderson Charlotte
Infielder: Tayla Evans, North Texas
Infielder: Maddie Bowlds, WKU
Infielder: Kourtney Gremillion, Charlotte*
Outfielder: Destini Brown, Southern Miss
Outfielder: Mya Stevenson, Marshall
Outfielder: Taylor Davis, WKU
Outfielder: Kelci Hill, Middle Tennessee
DP/Utility: Saige Pye, Marshall
(*16 Total- sixth infielder due to a tie in votes)
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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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All three players were selected prior to the 2021 season as well. The Herd was picked to finish fifth overall in the coaches' poll.
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Harrell enters her fifth season at Marshall after being granted the additional year with the 2020 COVID season. Harrell led the Herd in 2021 in batting average (.415), hits (39), home runs (10), RBI (29), total bases (77), slugging percentage (.819) and on base percentage (.526). The power hitter with the great eye at the plate, struck out only three times in 94 at bats over 30 games played in 2021. The Gahanna, Ohio, native continued her assault on the Marshall record books as well, ranking in the top 10 all-time in 11 offensive categories and three defensive. Harrell is tops all-time in career on base percentage at .547. She is second in walks (131) to four-time All-American Rachel Folden (2005-08). Harrell was named First Team All-C-USA and First Team All-Mideast Region.
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Harrell and Stevenson have been in a friendly battle, rising up the home run charts as both players set their sights on Folden's record of 58. Harrell and Stevenson ended the 2021 season with 40 homers each, good for second all-time. Harrell hit her 40th of her career at Charlotte on May 8, with a two-run blast to right field. Stevenson launched two shots in the Conference USA Tournament to catch back up and tie Harrell once again.
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Stevenson was one of just two players to play in all 33 games last season, starting in 32. She struggled early but exploded in conference play. Stevenson ended the season batting .293 with 29 hits, 27 runs scored (led team), eight doubles, eight home runs, 20 RBI and slugged .616. During the 16 league games in 2021, the slugger hit .385 with 20 hits, 13 runs, seven doubles, three homers and slugged .692. Along with being tied for second all-time at Marshall in home runs, Stevenson's name can also be found throughout the record book. The Mesquite, Texas, native enters her fourth season second in slugging percentage (.755). Last year Stevenson became the 13th member of the Marshall 100 RBI Club, with a bomb at Chattanooga and currently as 114 good for 10th. She was named Second Team All-C-USA in 2021.
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Pye enters her third season with the Herd and her fifth year of collegiate action, also being granted the extra year after the 2020 COVID season. Pye's bat has been a key factor in Marshall's offense since she transferred to Huntington before the 2020 season from Georgia Tech. Last season, Pye hit .395 with 34 hits, 14 runs, five doubles, six home runs, 23 RBI, slugged .663 and had a .459 on base percentage. The Stockton, California, native also went off in league action beginning with a great series against Florida Atlantic. In the three games played, Pye hit .462 (6-of-13) with nine RBI. She tied the program single-game record with three doubles in game three of the series, and her third double drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Harrell won it in the ninth. Pye had a 12-game hitting streak toward the end of the season and reached base safely in the final 18 games. She was named First Team All-C-USA and Third Team All-Mideast Region.
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Marshall begins the 2022 season Feb. 11-13 at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted by Georgia Tech. The Herd will take on Saint Joseph's, Villanova and Georgia Tech. Marshall's 2022 season schedule features 23 home games as well, its most at Dot Hicks Field since 2012 (24).
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2022 PRESEASON SOFTBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â
- CharlotteÂ
- North Texas
- WKUÂ
- UAB
- Marshall
- Middle Tennessee
- LA Tech
- FIU
- Southern Miss
- UTSA
- UTEP
- Florida Atlantic
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte (SR., Catcher/Outfielder)
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PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Shelby Nunn, WKU (Fifth Year SR., RHP)
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PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Pitcher: Janie Worthington, North Texas
Pitcher: Corrina Dodd, Middle Tennessee
Pitcher: Shelby Nunn, WKU
Catcher: Sierra Frazier, UAB
Catcher: Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte
Infielder: Aly Harrell, Marshall
Infielder: Tata Davis, Southern Miss
Infielder: Cori Henderson Charlotte
Infielder: Tayla Evans, North Texas
Infielder: Maddie Bowlds, WKU
Infielder: Kourtney Gremillion, Charlotte*
Outfielder: Destini Brown, Southern Miss
Outfielder: Mya Stevenson, Marshall
Outfielder: Taylor Davis, WKU
Outfielder: Kelci Hill, Middle Tennessee
DP/Utility: Saige Pye, Marshall
(*16 Total- sixth infielder due to a tie in votes)
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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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Players Mentioned
Sunday, May 17
Friday, May 15
Wednesday, May 13
Monday, May 11