Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
#10 Seed Coastal Carolina
No. 2 Seed Marshall Softball Meets No. 10 Seed Coastal Carolina in SBC Quarterfinals
5/6/2026 7:48:00 PM | Softball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall Thundering Herd softball team (37-16) begins its postseason journey in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinals against Coastal Carolina (25-30).
First pitch between the Herd and Chanticleers is scheduled for 2 p.m. eastern, 1 p.m. local time Thursday.Â
The full SBC Championship Central can be viewed HERE.
Tournament Information
Dates: May 6-9, 2026
Bracket: HERE
Place: Lafayette, Louisiana
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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 en route to a NCAA Tournament appearance. The Herd has made two NCAA Regionals in its history (2013 & 2017). Â
- Marshall has secured its second-consecutive 2nd-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference in season three under Zerkle. Season three under Zerkle has already seen the team with its most overall wins and most league victories with 17.
- 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
- Marshall's Sydni Burko won the 2026 SBC Softball Player of the Year award Tuesday. Burko is the first league player of the year 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.Â
- The Herd's 89 home runs this year is a single-season program record, leads the SBC and is 10th-most in the country. Burko (21) and Blake (17) are two of the top-four home run hitters in the league.Â
- King leads the Herd with a 2.71 ERA and 150 strikeouts this season. Her six saves are a single-season program record. Â
- For extended game notes, view HERE.
ABOUT COASTAL CAROLINA
- Coastal Carolina is 25-30 this season following its Opening Round victory over Georgia Southern, 6-2.
- Five Chants earned All-SBC Honors, including First Team members Georgia Hood and Kaelin Cash. The pair of power hitters combined for 36 homers in the regular season.
- The Herd swept the regular season series in Conway. Thursday will be the third matchup between the two sides in the SBC Quarterfinal Round. Coastal knocked off the No. 2 seed Herd last season en route to its first SBC Tournament Title.Â
For all the latest information about Marshall Softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
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