Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Jacksonville
Marshall Travels to Charlotte For Third Weekend of 2026
2/19/2026 1:01:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After 10 days on the road in Florida to begin the 2026 season, Marshall Softball (5-7) resets as it travels to North Carolina for the Charlotte Invitational hosted by the (receiving votes) 49ers.Â
The former conference foes will also be joined by Jacksonville and perennial NCAA Tournament team Boston U.
Weekend Information
Dates: Feb. 20-22, 2026
Opponents: Jacksonville, (RV) Charlotte, Boston U
Place: Charlotte, North Carolina
Stadium: Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium
Watch: ESPN+ (Charlotte Friday Game)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
X: @HerdSB
Coach Morgan Zerkle
- Head Coach Morgan Zerkle enters her 3rd season as head coach at her alma mater. The 2017 All-American for the Herd led the team that season with a .476 average en route to a NCAA Tournament appearance. The Herd has made two NCAA Regionals in its history (2013 & 2017). Â
- Marshall vaulted up to a 2nd place finish in the Sun Belt Conference in season two under Zerkle. The Herd improved its win total by six games with five more SBC victories from the season prior.Â
- Zerkle - the Milton, West Virginia native - plays professionally for the AUSL's Chicago Bandits. She is also on the active Team USA Softball roster.Â
MARSHALL NOTES
- Marshall went 5-7 throughout its opening Florida swing. The record does not tell the full story of the Herd, with its seven losses coming against teams with a combined 44-9 record. The Herd's third weekend will feature more challenges with a Charlotte team receiving votes and Boston U, who holds a win over No. 16 Duke this season.Â
- Senior Paige Simpson leads the nation with 42 assists at shortstop. Simpson is one of four seniors and 13 returning players from 2025.
- Sophomore Sydni Burko has six home runs, the most in the Sun Belt Conference. Burko is one of seven newcomers to Marshall in 2026.
ABOUT JACKSONVILLE
- Jacksonville is 6-4 this season. The Dolphins will be playing its first game this season out of the state of Florida on Friday.Â
- Friday will be the first meeting between the two sides in program history.Â
ABOUT CHARLOTTE
- Charlotte is 9-2, having knocked off No. 23 Clemson Wednesday. The 49ers entered the week receiving votes after a weekend where the team went 5-0 against No. 14 Virginia Tech, (RV) Michigan State, and Villanova.Â
- Marshall leads the tight series between the two sides, 19-18.
ABOUT BOSTON U
- Boston U is 3-6, but has the aforementioned ranked victory over the Blue Devils. The Terriers have won the Patriot League and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons, and six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments.Â
- Senior pitcher Kasey Richard is 4th in the nation with 38.0 IP.Â
- Marshall won a 13-12 thriller in the only all-time meeting between the two sides in Feb. 2010.Â
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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