Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
South Alabama
Marshall Softball Faces South Alabama in Three-Game Series at Dot Hicks Field
4/16/2026 2:02:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Sun Belt Conference-leading Marshall Thundering Herd (32-11, 13-2 SBC) welcomes the South Alabama Jaguars (26-19, 10-5 SBC) for a crucial three-game set at Dot Hicks Field.
The series opener Friday evening is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday will be "Bark in the Park" games where dogs will be permitted to attend. Representatives from the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association and the Huntington-Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter will be on site each day.Â
Series Information
Dates: Apr. 17-19, 2026
Opponent: South Alabama
Place: Huntington, West Virginia
Stadium: Dot Hicks Field
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
X: @HerdSB
Coach Morgan Zerkle
- Head Coach Morgan Zerkle is in 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 has an opportunity to start a new winning streak after its season-high nine game run was snapped Wednesday at Ohio. The non-conference loss had no impact on the Herd's hold in the SBC standings, and MU remains in the RPI Top-25, ranked No. 23.
- The Herd is two home runs away from matching its single-season program record of 79 home runs hit in 2019. Multi-home run games have not been out of the ordinary for Coach Zerkle's Herd, who have had 19 games this season with two or more longballs. The team has also hit five in a game against App State at home, and a single-game program record-tying six against Georgia Southern on Mar. 22.
- Junior Jules King has lowered her ERA to 2.89 following a strong relief appearance Wednesday. King has 112 strikeouts this season, 4th in the SBC. Â
- For extended weekend game notes, view HERE. For the shortened weekend game program, view HERE. Â
ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA
- South Alabama's strength is its pitching staff, with the combination of Ryley Harrison and Sydney Scapin both in the league's Top-10 in ERA. Harrison has pitched the bulk of the innings, with 148.0 IP and 134 strikeouts. Scapin is holding opposing hitters to a .218 average, 2nd-best in the league.Â
- Florida Southwestern Junior College transfer Virginia Mambelli leads the team with a .364 average and six home runs. The native of Forli, Italy is one of two Jags (Presley Lively) hitting above .300.
- This weekend will be the first meeting between the two sides in Huntington. The Herd is 2-4 all-time against the Jags.
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