CHERRY TWP — Marshall University's softball team wants Gabby Stewart because she can run.

Who can blame them?

Stewart has stolen 39 bases in 41 attempts over the past two seasons for Moniteau. She also competes in the 100 meters, 4x100 relay, long jump and triple jump for the Warriors girls track team.

In fact, Stewart was the lone state qualifier to compete in four events at the PIAA Championships last spring.

“She's just an amazing athlete,” Moniteau track coach Sue Scialabba said.

Stewart signed a letter-of-intent Friday to continue her academic and softball career at Marshall, a member of Conference USA.

“Softball's been my game since I was nine years old,” Stewart said. “It's the sport I can't live without.

“My visit to Marshall went extremely well. I met all of the other freshmen coming into the softball program. The upperclassmen made us all feel a part of the team, even though we're not even freshmen yet.”

The Thundering Herd are 25-4 so far this season, ranked 30th in the country, and are riding a 16-game winning streak into play this weekend.

“Gabby was recruited as a runner,” first-year Warriors softball coach Lennie Claypoole said. “She obviously has the speed and can make an impact on their team that way right away.

“Marshall has a speedy right fielder (Morgan Zerkle), a slap hitter similar to Gabby, who is a senior this year. I imagine they're hoping Gabby can replace her.”

Stewart said the coaches talked to her about that possibility.

“My first year, they want me to pinch-run and play outfield,” she said. “I hope I can live up to the standard of play that she's done there.”

Stewart is a fourth-year starter for Moniteau softball and was a key cog in the team's trip to the state finals last year. The Warriors were 24-2 last season and were 64-5 over the previous three years.

Marshall has been winning at an impressive clip as well. Shonda Stanton is in her 18th year as head coach and has 518 victories with the Herd, including 11 30-win seasons. Marshall has won 30 or more games in four of the past five seasons.

“Winning will come and go,” Stewart said. “That's not the reason to pick a school. The people are what's important. The people will always be there.”

The Herd reached the Conference USA title game three successive years from 2012-14, winning the league championship in 2013.

“Gabby has worked to become an extremely successful slap hitter,” Claypoole said. “That takes a lot of practice over a long period of time, just like pitching does,.

“Thing us, she can turn on the ball and drive it as well. That makes her even more dangerous at the plate and a really tough out.”

During her freshman through junior years, Stewart hit over .500 (107-for-205) with 22 doubles, seven triples and a couple of home runs. She has walked 30 times while striking out just 16 times in 239 plate appearances.

Stewart hit .645 (45-for-76) last year and her 45 runs scored were second on the team. She led the Warriors with 27 stolen bases.

Before choosing Marshall, Stewart also considered softball at Cedarville (Ohio) University, running track at Slippery Rock and softball at Delaware. She carries a 3.7 grade point average and plans to major in mechanical engineering.

“Their mechanical engineering program is outstanding. That played a big factor in my decision to go to Marshall,” Stewart said.