Marshall Softball with Chance to Claim SBC Regular Season Crown

 By Ben Anderson


    Today, Marshall Softball welcomes the James Madison Dukes to Dot Hicks Field for the regular season series finale, and a chance to claim its first Sun Belt Conference regular season crown. 


    The Thundering Herd enters at 36-14 (16-5) and tied for first place with the ULM Warhawks, who plays Southern Miss this weekend. Both teams have a chance to share the regular season title if it matches weekend results. 


    The Dukes are 25-22 (11-10) and winners of nine of its last 11, after sweeping the Georgia State Panthers last weekend. The Dukes are currently ranked fifth in the SBC. 


    This weekend is a weekend of celebration for the Thundering Herd. On Friday, the program will announce the 2026 Emileigh Cooper “Warrior” Award. Saturday’s pregame festivities will recognize the seniors of Abby Darnley, Paige Maynard, and Paige Simpson. The team will also recognize Haleigh Adkins, Bella Gerlach, and Jules King, all of whom are receiving their degrees from Marshall University as well, with eligibility remaining following the 2026 season. 


    The contest marks two strong hitting teams in the league. Marshall has the program single-season team home run record with 84 long balls on the year which is ranked 10th-most in the country, and leading the way is Syndi Burko who needs one more homer to tie the single-season individual program record of 20, set by Mya S tevenson in 2019. The Dukes have eight players hitting .300 or better this season, including the reigning SBC Player of the Week Payton List. List hit .500 for the week in the team’s four wins last week, including two home runs in the JMU victory over No. 23 Virginia. 


    Both teams are led by winning head coaches. Marshall is led by third-year coach and former standout Morgan Zerkle who has an overall record of 92-65. The Dukes are led by ninth-year leader Loren LaPorte who is 281-144 with the Dukes, that includes taking the team to the 2021 College World Series.


    The Thundering Herd leads the all-time series against the Dukes, including taking the series sweep last season in Harrisonburg. 


    All three games will be broadcast on the Cutting Edge Sports Radio Network on WMUL-FM 88.1 and online at marshall.edu/WMUL on stream 1.


    Game one coverage begins tonight at 5:45 p.m. with first pitch at 6 p.m. FM88 Sports Ben Anderson & Alyson Messinger will have the call.


    Game two coverage begins tomorrow at 4:45 p.m. with first pitch at 5 p.m. FM88 Sports Nate Courtney & Connor Brown will have the call.


    Game three coverage begins Sunday at 11:45 a.m. with first pitch at noon. FM88 Sports Ben Anderson & Rhys Owens will have the call.  


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