# Morgan Zerkle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Morgan_Zerkle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Morgan_Zerkle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Zerkle > Source revision: 1354720824 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American softball coach and player}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Morgan Zerkle | image = | current_title = [Head coach](/source/Head_coach) | current_team = [Marshall](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_softball) | current_conference = [Sun Belt](/source/Sun_Belt_Conference) | current_record = {{winpct|94|70|record=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|08|12}} | birth_place = [Milton, West Virginia](/source/Milton%2C_West_Virginia), U.S. | player_years1 = 2014–2017 | player_team1 = [Marshall](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_softball) | player_positions = [Outfield](/source/Outfield) | overall_record = {{winpct|94|70|record=y}} | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = | coaching_records = | coach_years1 = 2018–2019 | coach_team1 = [Indiana](/source/Indiana_Hoosiers_softball) (GA) | coach_years2 = 2020–2023 | coach_team2 = [Miami (OH)](/source/Miami_RedHawks_softball) (assistant) | coach_years3 = 2024–present | coach_team3 = Marshall }} '''Morgan Zerkle''' (born August 12, 1995) is an American professional [softball](/source/softball) player and collegiate coach, who plays for the [Chicago Bandits](/source/Chicago_Bandits) of the [Athletes Unlimited Softball League](/source/Athletes_Unlimited_Softball_League) (AUSL) and serving as the head coach of [Marshall University](/source/Marshall_University) [Thundering Herd softball](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_softball) team. ==Early life and education== Zerkle was born in [Milton, West Virginia](/source/Milton%2C_West_Virginia) and attended [Cabell Midland High School](/source/Cabell_Midland_High_School){{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Morgan Zerkle - Softball {{!}} Team USA |url=https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/morgan-zerkle |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=www.teamusa.com |language=en}} before accepting her only collegiate scholarship offer from Marshall University.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-09 |title=Morgan Zerkle's Journey from Small Town Underdog to Softball Pro |url=https://www.on3.com/softball/news/morgan-zerkles-journey-from-small-town-underdog-to-softball-pro/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Softball America |language=en}} She went on to earn a degree in exercise science and later completed a master’s degree in kinesiology at the university.{{Cite web |title=Morgan Zerkle - Bandits |url=https://theausl.com/players/morgan-zerkle/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=[Athletes Unlimited Softball League](/source/Athletes_Unlimited_Softball_League) |language=en}} ==Career== === College === Zerkle played four seasons at Marshall University, under head coach Shonda Stanton. She finishing her career as the all-time leader in batting average (.451), triples (14), and stolen bases (162).{{Cite web |title=Morgan Zerkle - Softball |url=https://herdzone.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-zerkle/3119 |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Marshall University Athletics |language=en}} In her senior season (2017), she hit .476 with nine home runs, 43 RBIs, 39 stolen bases, and 48 runs scored. She was named [Conference USA](/source/Conference_USA) Player of the Year and Conference USA Female Student-Athlete of the Year (all sports),{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-07-01 |title=Zerkle named top female C-USA athlete |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/zerkle-named-top-female-c-usa-athlete/article_89bfe8b3-adcf-54e6-899a-0de06f18f0fa.html |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=The Herald-Dispatch |language=en}} and received NFCA [All-America](/source/All-America) Second Team honors. She was also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and twice a finalist for the [USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year](/source/USA_Softball_Collegiate_Player_of_the_Year).{{Cite web |date=2016-04-15 |title=Zerkle selected as finalist for USA Player of the Year - The Parthenon |url=https://marshallparthenon.com/9758/sports/zerkle-selected-as-finalist-for-usa-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2026-05-11}} A four-time All-Conference USA selection and three-time NFCA All-Region honoree,{{Cite web |title=Morgan Zerkle |url=https://www.usasoftball.com/roster/morgan-zerkle/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=USA Softball |language=en-US}} Zerkle ranked second in the nation in batting average in both her sophomore and senior seasons. As a sophomore she won the [NFCA Golden Shoe Award](/source/NFCA_Golden_Shoe_Award) for the most stolen bases in the country.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Golden Shoe Awards {{!}} National Fastpitch Coaches Association |url=https://nfca.org/awards/golden-shoe-award-winners |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=NFCA |language=en-gb}} === Professional === Zerkle was selected 26th overall in the 2017 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft by the [Scrap Yard Dawgs](/source/Scrap_Yard_Dawgs). She later joined the Athletes Unlimited pro league when it launched in 2020, competing with the [Chicago Bandits](/source/Chicago_Bandits).{{Cite web |title=Morgan Zerkle - Softball Coach |url=https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/morgan-zerkle/647 |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Miami University RedHawks |language=en}} She became the first player in [Athletes Unlimited Softball League](/source/Athletes_Unlimited_Softball_League) history to reach 10,000 career leaderboard points, and the first to appear in 100 career games. In the inaugural AUSL season (2024), Zerkle posted the first hit in league history, a first-inning double, and hit the first inside-the-park home run in league history.{{Cite web |last=Burkhardt |first=Molly |date=June 7, 2025 |title=Top moments in AUSL openers: legendary 1st pitches, 1st HR, sold-out crowds and more |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ausl-opening-day-2025-top-moments |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} She finished as a top-five player in batting average and led the league in home runs with nine. She remains an active player and is protected by the Bandits for the 2026 season.{{Cite web |title=Roster - AUSL Bandits |url=https://theausl.com/bandits/roster/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=AUSL |language=en}} === National Team === Zerkle competed in the 2016 and 2017 World Cups of Softball and the 2017 Japan Cup, earning silver medals in both 2017 events.{{Cite web |title=Zerkle Selected to the Women's National Elite Team |url=https://herdzone.com/news/2016/1/8/Zerkle_Selected_to_the_Women_amp_8217_s_National_Elite_Team |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Marshall University Athletics |language=en}} In the 2022 [Pan American Championship](/source/Pan_American_Championship), she hit .562 with four RBIs and eight runs scored, helping Team USA win the gold medal. She also participated in the 2025–26 USA Down Under Series against Australia.{{Cite web |last=STOWERS |first=SHANNON |date=2023-06-26 |title=Former Marshall softball star Morgan Zerkle named program's new head coach |url=https://wchstv.com/sports/top-sports/morgan-zerkle-marshall-softball-team-usa-miami-ohio-college-student-athlete-national-pro-fastpitch-pan-american-championship-athletes-unlimited-huntington-cabell-county |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=WCHS |language=en}} === Coaching === After her playing career at Marshall, Zerkle moved into coaching. She served as a graduate assistant at Indiana University (2018–2019) before joining the [Miami RedHawks softball](/source/Miami_RedHawks_softball) as an assistant coach (2020–2023).{{Cite web |title=IU Softball to Host Walk-On Tryout Meeting |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2018/8/17/iu-softball-to-host-walk-on-tryout-meeting |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=Indiana University Athletics |language=en}} During her four seasons in Oxford, the RedHawks went 137–55–1, won three consecutive MAC championships, and made three [NCAA Softball](/source/NCAA_Softball_Championship) [tournament](/source/NCAA_Softball_Championship) appearances.{{Cite web |last=Hannahs |first=Alyssa |date=2023-06-26 |title=Marshall University softball head coach chosen |url=https://www.wsaz.com/2023/06/26/marshall-university-softball-head-coach-chosen/ |access-date=2026-05-11 |website=WSAZ |language=en}} On June 26, 2023, Zerkle was named the fifth head coach in [Marshall Thundering Herd softball](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_softball) history. In her second season, the Herd finished second in the [Sun Belt Conference](/source/Sun_Belt_Conference) with a 15–9 league record, a five-win improvement over the prior year. In her third season she led the Herd to their third NCAA Softball tournament appearance in program history.{{Cite web |title=Marshall Softball Earns Bid to 2026 NCAA Tournament; Heads to Durham Regional |url=https://herdzone.com/news/2026/5/10/marshall-softball-earns-at-large-bid-to-2026-ncaa-tournament-heads-to-durham-regional |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Marshall University Athletics |language=en}} ==Head coaching record== {{CBB yearly record start | type =coach | conference = | postseason= }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead |name=[Marshall Thundering Herd](/source/Marshall_Thundering_Herd_softball) |startyear=2024 |conference=[Sun Belt Conference](/source/Sun_Belt_Conference) |endyear= }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = [2024](/source/2024_NCAA_Division_I_softball_season) | name = Marshall | overall = 25–28 | conference = 10–14 | confstanding = T–9th | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = [2025](/source/2025_NCAA_Division_I_softball_season) | name = Marshall | overall = 31–23 | conference = 15–9 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = [2026](/source/2026_NCAA_Division_I_softball_season) | name = Marshall | overall = 38–19 | conference = 17–7 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = [NCAA Regional](/source/2026_NCAA_Division_I_softball_tournament) }} {{CBB yearly record subtotal | name = Marshall | overall = {{winpct|94|70|record=y}} | confrecord = {{winpct|42|30|record=y}} }} {{CBB yearly record end | overall = {{winpct|94|70|record=y}} }} ==See also== * [NCAA Division I softball career .400 batting average list](/source/NCAA_Division_I_softball_career_.400_batting_average_list) ==References== {{reflist}} {{Sun Belt Conference softball coach navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Zerkle, Morgan}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:American softball coaches Category:American softball players Category:American female sports coaches Category:Chicago Bandits players Category:Indiana Hoosiers softball coaches Category:Marshall Thundering Herd athletes Category:Marshall Thundering Herd softball coaches Category:Miami RedHawks softball coaches Category:Scrap Yard Dawgs players Category:People from Milton, West Virginia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Morgan Zerkle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Zerkle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Zerkle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.