Share on LinkedIn

NEW ORLEANS - Marshall University outfielder Bella Gerlach has been named the Sun Belt Conference Softball Player of the Week on Tuesday, as announced by the league office.

Gerlach went 8-for-12 (.667) with four home runs and 11 RBI in Marshall’s road sweep over the weekend.

Gerlach’s fourth homer of the weekend - and Sun Belt Conference-leading 13th - was her most crucial. The Herd’s right fielder hit a three-run opposite-field shot to turn an 8-6 7th inning deficit into a 9-8 lead. The clutch hit was Gerlach’s second go-ahead home run in the 7th inning this season when the team was trailing.

“It’s great to see Bella get some recognition from the Sun Belt,” Coach Morgan Zerkle said. “She was on fire this past weekend and also performed in a big moment with the game on the line Sunday. I know our team’s confidence in her when she steps to the plate is super high, and I hope she knows how much belief we all have in her.”

With an overall dominant weekend at the plate, Gerlach’s two home runs Friday marked her third multi-HR game of the season, and her four hits Saturday were a new career-high. Gerlach also leads the conference with 43 runs batted in.

The Western Michigan transfer has set collegiate career-highs in every major offensive statistical category this season.