Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Florida A&M
Herd Softball Remains in Sunshine State for Pair of Florida Midweeks
2/9/2026 4:17:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Softball will play its first midweeks of the 2026 season as it stays in Florida's Capital City to face Florida A&M Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. The Herd will travel east to Jacksonville Wednesday, taking on the North Florida Ospreys at the same 6 p.m. first pitch time.
Game Information
Dates: Feb. 10-11, 2026
Opponents: Florida A&M, North Florida
Places: Tallahassee/Jacksonville, Florida
Stadiums: Veronica Wiggins Field at University Softball Complex (FAMU)/UNF Softball Complex (North Florida)
Watch: No Stream
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (FAMU)
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).
- 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.
- Zerkle - the Milton, West Virginia native - plays professionally for the AUSL's Chicago Bandits. She is also on the active Team USA Softball roster.
MARSHALL NOTES
- Marshall returns 13 players from last year with eight newcomers to the roster - including seven freshmen and one transfer.
- Among the returners include Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference member Diamond Leslie. Leslie opened 2026 with a .444 average across five games in the leadoff spot with two home runs and five RBI.
- The one aforementioned transfer is sophomore Sydni Burko. The Ona, West Virginia native had a team-leading .571 average with three doubles and two home runs in the opening weekend - both coming against No. 7 Florida State.
ABOUT FLORIDA A&M
- Florida A&M opened 2026 at a weather-shortened Campbell University Tournament weekend. The Rattlers split with Howard and dropped its game against the hosts.
- The Rattlers have been picked 2nd in the SWAC East Division.
- The two sides will meet for the first time since the 2002 season, FAMU leads the all-time series, 3-1.
ABOUT NORTH FLORIDA
- North Florida went 5-1 in its opening weekend home tournament, highlighted by a run-rule win over (receiving votes) Auburn.
- The Ospreys are coming off a 47-win 2025 season in which the team qualified for the NCAA Columbia Regional. UNF will be the third of five NCAA Tournament teams the Herd will face on its opening Sunshine State swing (UConn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Florida).
- The two sides have only met once, a UNF victory in 2006.
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