Harrell Honored as Senior CLASS Award Winner

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Marshall softball fifth-year senior Aly Harrell was named the 2022 Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA Division I softball, the organization announced on Wednesday. Harrell is the first Marshall student-athlete to be honored with the prestigious award.

"I was shocked at first," Harrell said upon hearing the news. "It took me a second to process the news once Coach Smith told me. I responded to her saying I couldn't believe that I won! Of course, her response was, "I can! You deserve this award!" I am truly just thankful to be recognized for this award!"

The award, chosen by a vote of Division I softball coaches, national softball media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior or graduate-level student-athlete in Division I softball. Harrell is the first student-athlete from Marshall University to win the Senior CLASS Award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character, and competition.

Harrell was first selected as one of 30 candidates among all of the seniors across Division I softball back on March 9. The Gahanna, Ohio, native was then picked as one of 10 finalists for the award on April 15. Harrell was the sixth player in Marshall Athletics history to be selected as a finalist. She was the third softball player picked, and also the third Herd student-athlete in the last calendar year. Rachel Folden (softball) was the first finalist back in 2008. The next finalist was Morgan Zerkle (softball) in 2017 followed by Jon Elmore (men's basketball) in 2019. In the fall of 2021, Vitor Dias and Pedro Dolabella (men's soccer) were both tabbed as finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. Harrell is the first to be the last one standing.

"I know it's cliché, but it truly means the world to be recognized at such a high honor," Harrell said. "Knowing the student athletes that come through Marshall, it amazes me to think that there hasn't been a previous Senior CLASS Award winner. I'm honored to be the first in Marshall Athletics history, but I know for a fact there will be more to come and I'm happy to have paved a way for those in the future!"

"This is such an incredible and well-deserved honor for Aly," Herd head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. "I couldn't have asked for a better person and player to represent Marshall and our program. She has cemented herself in our record books as one of the best hitters to ever play at Marshall, while being an incredible student, person and leader. We are so proud that she is a daughter of Marshall."
Harrell, who graduated in the spring of 2021 and finished her athletic eligibility this season, leaves Marshall with quite a haul of honors and awards as one of the best to ever come through the softball program as well as suit up for the Green & White in any sport.

"My career here at Marshall has given me a voice and a platform to reach out to those in the community," Harrell said. "The community of Huntington is truly one big family and always looking out for one another. As I look to the future, I am confident that I will always have my Marshall family in my corner. The people I have met here have shaped me into who the person I am today. Being a student-athlete gave me a platform to give back, especially to the sport that has given me so much. Being able to work with the younger girls in the community brings me so much joy. My goal both present and future is to bring the same joy I feel doing what I love to others around me and that will definitely stick with me in both my future career and future service."

Harrell has spent her time off the field donating her time working with little league teams, whether as a mentor, or even umpiring games. The slugger with the big smile, loves to stick around after games to sign autographs, take photos or even just talk with the young ladies who come to watch her play. She has volunteered at the VA Hospital and the Hoops Children's Hospital. One of her favorite activities has been spending time at the local animal shelter including walking the dogs. Harrell has helped with the Marshall Sweetheart Clinic where athletes from the women's teams with the Herd come together and work with many younger girls from the area, teaching them about the sport they play and showcasing drills. She also participated in the sixth annual CooperStrong 5K in Jackson, Ohio.

Harrell also never lost sight of her responsibilities in the classroom, either. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology and was named to the C-USA Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 GPA twice. She ended up taking advantage of her extra year on campus this season, pursuing a post baccalaureate in the College of Science.

On the field, Harrell's presence, eye and swing has led her to be ranked in the top 10 at Marshall in 18 different offensive and defensive categories. It all began back in 2018, her freshman season.

Harrell overcame a slow start to eventually being a leader on the diamond batting .350 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Her 11 bombs were the team freshman record. She slugged .708 and was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and First Team All-C-USA.

In 2019, Harrell set records with 68 walks and 459 putouts while playing in a record 64 games. She smashed 14 homers and drove in 40 more runs. Along with her 68 walks, Harrell was hit by a pitch 17 times for a combined total of 85 free passes to lead the NCAA. She had an on base percentage of .578 while also slugging .697. Harrell was honored again as a First Team All-C-USA selection and was a member of the All-Tournament Team.

Her junior season, along with everyone else in the country, was cut short in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Harrell was off to a great start batting .441 with 30 hits, eight doubles, five home runs and 23 RBI. She drew 23 walks and six hit-by-pitches in just 25 games. Harrell slugged .779 and had a .602 on base percentage.

In 2021, Harrell came up clutch for the Herd including a walk-off double against Florida Atlantic in extra innings. She finished the season batting over .400 (.415) yet again with 10 homers, slugged a career-best .819 and had a .526 on base percentage. Harrell was honored as a First Team All-C-USA selection for the third time.

Harrell opted to return to Marshall for her fifth and final season of athletic eligibility being granted the fifth year after the 2020 COVID season. Her dedication to the game, the Marshall softball program, her teammates, and her school came full circle when she was named the 2022 Warrior Award winner, named in honor of Emileigh Cooper. Harrell helped lead the Herd through a great season that resulted in 35 wins, the number four seed in the conference tournament, and more team records.

The slugger bat over .400 for the third time in her career with a .437 average. She had a career-best 62 hits and a .606 on base percentage which ranks second in the NCAA. Harrell surpassed the program walks record midway through the season in the series with Middle Tennessee and proceeded to smash the old number of 147 ending the year at 175. Harrell was once again clutch throughout the season with either hits or walks to keep innings and rallies alive. And the fifth-year senior was always one of the first to celebrate when one of her teammates succeeded.

Harrell finished her Herd career on fire during the Conference USA Tournament. She went off with four home runs. The first, in the first inning against Florida Atlantic in Marshall's opener, was the 50th of her career. Harrell is just the third member of the Marshall Softball 50 Home Runs Club. She wasn't done as she hit another bomb in the fourth that gave the Herd a 5-4 lead on the way to the win. Harrell launched another home run against No. 1 seed Louisiana Tech and then a final blast against No. 7 seed Charlotte. She reached base the first nine times she came to the plate with either bombs, walks or base hits.

Harrell played in 220 games with 215 starts in her Marshall career. She leaves with a .390 batting average (fifth all-time), 222 hits (eighth), 141 runs scored (sixth), 47 doubles (third), 53 home runs (third), 171 RBI (tied for second), 175 walks (first), 52 hit-by-pitches (second), a .752 slugging percentage (fourth) and an all-time best .562 on base percentage. She is a four-time, First Team All-Conference USA selection and NFCA All-Mideast Region honoree. Harrell is just the third player in team history to reach base in 200 games, good for 90.9-percent of her games played.

2022 Senior CLASS Award Softball First Team All-Americans:
Lynnsie Elam, Oklahoma
Aly Harrell, Marshall
Elizabeth Hightower, Florida
Mekenzie Saban, Saint Francis
Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte

2022 Senior CLASS Award Softball Second Team All-Americans:
Meghan Beaubien, Michigan
Courtney Coppersmith, UMBC
Hailey Dolcini, Texas
Gabbie Plain, Washington
Sydney Sherrill, Florida State

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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Marshall University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Aly Harrell

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