Marshall heads into an offense-heavy NCAA Durham Regional packed with dangerous lineups, making the Herd’s path out of Durham, North Carolina anything but forgiving.
Marshall (37-17) heads into the NCAA Softball Tournament as an at-large selection and will share the bracket with ACC regular-season champion and regional host Duke, longtime national power Arizona and MEAC champion Howard in one of the more offense-heavy regionals in the field.
Here’s what to know about each team heading into the weekend.
Duke: Regional host built around elite offense
Duke enters the NCAA Tournament at 39-14 and ranked No. 12 nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) after winning the ACC regular-season title.
The Blue Devils can flat-out hit.
Duke enters the regional with a .354 team batting average with 96 home runs and 399 runs scored, making it one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
The lineup is loaded from top to bottom, beginning with Aminah Vega, who is hitting .462 with 16 home runs, 59 RBIs and 82 runs scored. Jessica Oakland is batting .465 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs, while Tyrina Jones leads the team with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs.
Duke also creates pressure on the bases with 50 stolen bases this season.
The question mark for the Blue Devils has been pitching consistency.
Duke owns a 4.52 team earned run average, led by Cassidy Curd, who is 17-2 with 120 strikeouts in 139.1 innings.
Arizona: Wildcats bring power and postseason pedigree
Arizona enters the regional at 35-16 after navigating a rugged Big 12 schedule.
The Wildcats are led by one of the nation’s top hitters in Sydney Stewart, the Big 12 player of the year and conference batting champion.
Stewart is hitting .415 with 20 home runs, 76 RBIs and a staggering 1.000 slugging percentage.
Arizona’s lineup has depth beyond Stewart.
Regan Shockey is batting .447, while Sereniti Trice (.405) and Tayler Biehl (.359) give the Wildcats multiple hitters capable of taking over games. Grace Jenkins has added 12 home runs and 58 RBIs.
As a team, Arizona is hitting .345 with 64 home runs.
The Wildcats rely heavily on Jalen Adams in the circle. Adams is 20-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 147.2 innings pitched.
Arizona also brings one thing few programs can match – NCAA Tournament experience. The Wildcats are one of the sport’s traditional powers with a long postseason history.
Marshall: Herd offense capable of matching anyone
Marshall enters the regional at 37-17 after earning an at-large bid out of the Sun Belt Conference.
The Herd’s strength is power.
Marshall blasted 89 home runs this season, led by Sun Belt player and newcomer of the year Sydni Burko, who broke the program’s single-season home run record with 21 homers.
Burko is hitting .382 with a team-best .812 slugging percentage. Ava Blake has added 17 home runs, while Bella Gerlach has 14 and Diamond Leslie has 10.
The Herd’s pitching staff has quietly been one of the better units in the regional statistically.
Marshall owns a 3.06 team ERA and is led by Jules King, who is 16-7 with 156 strikeouts in 149 innings pitched. Maddie Veal carries a 3.19 ERA, while Paige Maynard is 10-6 with a 2.80 ERA.
Marshall’s challenge will be limiting explosive offenses and getting out of its recent slump. The Herd will face three teams hitting .310 or better.
Howard: Dangerous underdog with speed and contact hitting
Howard may be the No. 4 seed in the regional, but the Bison are not a typical low-major team.
The MEAC champions enter the postseason at 28-17 and are hitting .310 as a team.
Howard is led by MEAC player of the year Maryn Jordan, who is batting .478 with a .582 on-base percentage.
The Bison pressure defenses with speed, swiping 107 bases this season. Wisdom Colbert has 18 stolen bases, while Jordan and Amirah Lenon each have 16 or more.
Howard’s biggest weapon in the circle is MEAC Pitcher of the Year Aiko Conaway, who is 13-9 with a 2.92 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
While Howard doesn’t possess the same national profile as Duke or Arizona, the Bison have the type of athleticism and speed that can make regional games uncomfortable in a hurry.
Players to watch
Here are the players to watch in this weekend’s regional:
Sydni Burko, Marshall: The Sun Belt player of the year rewrote Marshall’s single-season home run record and gives the Herd a legitimate middle-of-the-order star capable of changing a game with one swing.
Sydney Stewart, Arizona: The Big 12 player of the year enters the postseason with 20 home runs, 76 RBIs and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Aminah Vega, Duke: One of the nation’s most dynamic all-around players, Vega is hitting .462 with 16 home runs and 82 runs scored.
Cassidy Curd, Duke: The Blue Devils’ ace will likely shoulder a heavy workload throughout the regional after posting a 17-2 record this season.
Maryn Jordan, Howard: The MEAC Player of the Year is hitting nearly .500 and sets the tone for Howard’s aggressive offensive style.
Jules King, Marshall: Marshall’s strikeout ace gives the Herd a pitcher capable of missing bats against elite competition. King has recorded 156 strikeouts this season.