Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
#21 Arizona
Marshall Softball Departs for Durham, NCAA Tournament
5/13/2026 2:31:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team (37-17) will head south on the West Virginia Turnpike to North Carolina as the team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
The start of the 2026 edition begins Friday at sites across the country, including Duke University for the Durham Regional. The Herd begins its tournament against Arizona (35-16) Friday at 2:30 p.m. from Smith Family Stadium.
The full NCAA DI Championship Central can be viewed HERE. The full Durham Regional Tournament Central can be viewed HERE.
Regional Information
Dates: May 15-17, 2026
Full NCAA Bracket: HERE
Regional Tournament Central: HERE
Place: Durham, North Carolina
Stadium: Smith Family Stadium
Watch: ESPN Family of Networks
Live Stats: NCAA Softball
Game Notes: Marshall Game Notes
X: @HerdSB
Coach Morgan Zerkle
- Head Coach Morgan Zerkle is in her third season as head coach at her alma mater. The 2017 All-American for the Herd led the team that season with a .476 average (best single-season in program history) en route to a NCAA Tournament appearance. She has now guided the Herd to its third NCAA Regionals in its history (2013, 2017, 2026), becoming the first to both play and coach for MU in the NCAA Tournament.
- Marshall secured its second-consecutive 2nd-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference in season three under Zerkle. This season has already seen the team with its most overall wins and most SBC victories with 17 under Zerkle.
- Zerkle - the West Virginia native - plays professionally for the AUSL's Chicago Bandits. She is also on the active Team USA Softball roster.
MARSHALL NOTES
- Sophomore Sydni Burko won the 2026 SBC Softball Player of the Year award. Burko is the first league player of the year for MU since Coach Zerkle won the C-USA POTY award in 2017. The Herd also had Ava Blake and Jules King named to the All-SBC Second Team and Diamond Leslie and Tia Titi named All-SBC Honorable Mention players.
- The Herd's 89 home runs this year is a single-season program record, finishing atop the SBC and is tied with fellow Tournament teams Alabama and Nebraska for 13th-most in the country. Burko (21) and Blake (17) finished as two of the top-4 home run hitters in the SBC.
- A trio of Herd pitchers have led the way for the team with senior Paige Maynard (2.80 ERA), junior Jules King (2.91 ERA), and sophomore Maddie Veal (3.19 ERA) all surpassing 95 innings pitched this season. King's 156 strikeouts finished 4th in the Sun Belt.
- First-year pitching coach Drew Calloway is an Arizona graduate. A GA in Tucson in 2025, Calloway worked under longtime Wildcats' pitching coach, Christian Conrad.
- Senior catcher Abby Darnley was named the program's 2026 Emileigh Cooper Warrior Award recipient. The memorial award has been given annually to a player who best embodies Cooper's Warrior spirit. More information can be found in the game notes below.
- For extended game notes, view HERE.
ABOUT ARIZONA
- Arizona is 35-16 this season, finishing tied for 2nd in the Big 12 this season. The Wildcats are the 6-seed in the lower left quadrant of the NCAA bracket, and the second-highest ranked team in the Durham Regional.
- Nine Wildcats were named to All-Big 12 Postseason Teams, including senior catcher Sydney Stewart being named the league's Player of the Year. Junior Regan Shockey was additionally named the conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
- Arizona has advanced out of 33 of 37 Regionals since 1987 with an overall record of 107-14.
- The Herd is seeking its first win against Arizona after eight previous meetings. The teams last met in 2024 in Tucson.
ABOUT DUKE
- Duke is 39-14 this season, finishing 2nd in the ACC, just one game behind Florida State. The Blue Devils are the overall No. 12 seed in the Tournament, and the 3-seed in the lower left quadrant of the bracket.
- A program only in its ninth year of existence, Duke will make its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and its fifth time hosting.
- Seven Blue Devils earned All-ACC honors including First Team members Aminah Vega and Jessica Oakland.
- If Marshall and Duke were to face off, it would be the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
ABOUT HOWARD
- Howard is 28-17 this season, finishing 18-3 in the MEAC, winning both the regular season and tournament titles. The team is the fourth-highest ranked team in the Durham Regional.
- The Bison cleaned up the MEAC Postseason Awards, with Tori Tyson winning Coach of the Year Honors, Maryn Jordan winning Player of the Year, and Marshall-transfer Aiko Conaway winning the league's Pitcher of the Year award.
- The Herd and Bison were initially set to face off at this season's Marshall March Madness before Howard did not travel due to weather. The Herd is 3-0 all-time against Howard.
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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