News

Marshall’s Aly Harrell Wins 2022 Senior CLASS Award® for Softball

June 01, 2022

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (June 1, 2022) - Marshall infielder Aly Harrell has been selected as the 2022 Senior CLASS Award® winner in NCAA® Division I softball.

The award, chosen by a vote of Division I softball coaches, national softball media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior or graduate-level student-athlete in Division I softball. Harrell is the first student-athlete from Marshall University to win the Senior CLASS Award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character, and competition.

“My career here at Marshall has given me a voice and a platform to reach out to those in the community,” said Harrell. “The community of Huntington is truly one big family and always looks out for one another. As I look to the future, I am confident that I will always have my Marshall family in my corner. The people I have met here have shaped me into who the person I am today. Being a student-athlete gave me a platform to give back, especially to the sport that has given me so much. Being able to work with the younger girls in the community brings me so much joy. My goal both present and future is to bring the same joy I feel doing what I love to others around me and that will definitely stick with me in both my future career and future service.”

Harrell’s first season with the Herd, a sign of what was to come for the rest of her career, was one for the record books. Alternating between designated hitter and first base, Harrell started 43 games and featured in five others. She led Marshall with a .350 batting average, .480 on-base percentage, .708 slugging percentage, as well as in RBI (41) and walks (23). Harrell’s stellar season at the plate saw her become the Herd’s program leader in home runs as a freshman (11), breaking the record previously held by Jazmine Valle and Briana Daiss. Harrell picked up 2018 C-USA All-Freshman Team, C-USA first team, and C-USA Freshman of the Year honors — only the seventh Herd to earn the latter honor — because of her record-setting campaign.

In her second season in Huntington, Harrell continued to display the talent she had shown in her overture. Marshall improved its record from 25-29-1 to 42-22 with Harrell proving herself to be a lock in the lineup, starting a program record 64 games. She led the Herd with a .338 batting average and .578 on-base percentage again while finishing second in home runs (14), RBI (40) and slugging percentage (.697). Harrell’s name was once again etched into the program’s record books as she set single-season highs of putouts (459) and walks (68), which also paced the NCAA. Harrell earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team and her second nod to the C-USA first team for her dominance.

Harrell, along with the entire NCAA, saw her third season come to an abrupt end in response to COVID-19. She started each of Marshall’s 25 games, reaching base safely in all but one and compiling a .602 on-base percentage that sat fourth in the NCAA. Harrell also recorded batting marks that included a .441 BA, .779 slugging percentage, 30 hits, 23 RBI, and 22 runs — extremely impressive marks in a shortened campaign.

In one more abbreviated season, Harrell started 30 games for Marshall in 2021. Again, Harrell led the Herd in batting average (.415), on-base percentage (.526), slugging percentage (.819), hits (39), and RBI (29). Her batting average also led the entire C-USA, which was helped by Harrell recording a hit in all but eight games. No surprise, but Harrell was again named to the C-USA first team for her prowess on the diamond.

Electing to return for her fifth year with the Herd, Harrell made the most of one last go-around. She was named to the C-USA first team for the fourth time in her career after tallying a team-high .437 batting average and .606 on-base percentage, which was second-best in the NCAA, in addition to leading in multiple other categories. Harrell started all 53 games for Marshall and continued to etch her name into the record books. She became just the second player in program history to reach 100 or more career games driving in a run, as well as the third to reach base safely in 200 or more games and eclipse 50 home runs.

Harrell, who featured in 220 games for Marshall during her career, has firmly cemented her legacy as one of the best to ever suit up for the Herd. She holds the program record for both walks (175) and on-base percentage (.562) while also sitting in the top 10 of 16 other categories. She is one of just two to finish a career with a slugging percentage over .700 and on-base percentage over .500 (Rachel Folden).
“This is such an incredible and well-deserved honor for Aly,” said Megan Smith Lyon, head coach of the Herd. “I couldn’t have asked for a better person and player to represent Marshall and our program. She has cemented herself in our record books as one of the best hitters to ever play at Marshall, while being an incredible student, person and leader. We are so proud that she is a daughter of Marshall.”

“It truly means the world to be recognized at such a high honor,” Harrell said of receiving the Senior CLASS Award. “Knowing the student athletes that come through Marshall, it amazes me to think that there hasn’t been a previous Senior CLASS Award winner. I’m honored to be the first in Marshall Athletics history, but I know for a fact there will be more to come and I’m happy to have paved a way for those in the future!”

Harrell never lost sight of her responsibilities in the classroom, either. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology and was named to the C-USA Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 GPA twice. She ended up taking advantage of her extra year on campus this season, pursuing a post baccalaureate in the College of Science.

Additionally, Harrell’s efforts extended in one more area outside of the diamond and classroom. She seemingly always found time to play her part in the Huntington community, often volunteering at the VA Hospital and Hoops Children’s Hospital. She also dedicated her time to local animal shelters, the Marshall Sweetheart Clinic, Huntington Little League, and Marshall’s Lil Sis program, where she was a pen pal for girls in the area. Harrell was honored as the fifth recipient of Marshall softball’s Warrior Award this year, named in memory of Emileigh Cooper.

“Aly Harrell has been the perfect representation of what a true student-athlete is from the moment she arrived in Huntington, West Virginia,” said Erik Miner, Executive Director of the Senior CLASS Award. “It has been a pleasure watching her make a mark in the community while excelling on the diamond. We’re extremely happy to offer our congratulations to Aly and Marshall University for winning this award.”

For more information on the Senior CLASS Award All-Americans, visit SeniorCLASSAward.com.

Softball 2022 Winner

First Team

Second Team