Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Softball Earns Bid to 2026 NCAA Tournament; Heads to Durham Regional
5/10/2026 8:17:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — For the first time in nine years and for just the third time in program history, Marshall Softball is going dancing.
The Herd (37-17) erupted at its private watch party when Marshall was announced as an at-large, heading to the Durham Regional, hosted by the 12-overall seed, Duke. MU and the Blue Devils will be joined by the 4-seed in the Durham Regional, Howard, and the 2-seed in the Durham Regional, Arizona, who Marshall will open with at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Durham Regional
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 10, 2026
📅 May 15-17
(3) @DukeSOFTBALL@HUBisonSoftball@HerdSB
(6) @ArizonaSoftball#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/iO90Fgwy02
In her 3rd season as Head Coach, Morgan Zerkle's Herd will head back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. That season as an All-American shortstop, Zerkle led the team as a senior to an at-large berth at the University of Kentucky.
The Herd's other NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2013, also in Lexington.
Durham Regional Schedule
Friday, May 15
Noon - Gm 1: Duke vs. Howard
2:30p - Gm 2: Arizona vs. Marshall
Saturday, May 16
1pm - Gm 3: Friday winners
3:30p - Gm 4: Friday losers
6p - Gm 5: Gm 3 Wnr-Gm 4 Lsr
Sunday, May 17
Noon - Championship Gm #1
2:30p- Championship Gm #2
Marshall Softball
- At 37-17, Marshall finished in 2nd place in the Sun Belt Conference, a league which sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
- Sophomore Sydni Burko leads the Herd with a .382 average and 21 home runs. Burko was named the 2026 SBC Player of the Year.
- The Herd is 2-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Marshall will seek its first NCAA Super Regional appearance.
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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