HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The NFCA joins Marshall athletics in mourning the loss of former NFCA All-Region and All-America Scholar-Athlete Emileigh Cooper, who died Friday due to injuries sustained in a car accident.

Cooper played for the Herd from 2012-15, earning NFCA All-Mideast Region honors her final season when she batted .434. She collected NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete recognition in 2012.

“She was a special person and the profound sense of heartbreak that we all are feeling demonstrates the measure of that irreplaceable feeling,” Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton said in a statement. “We loved Coop so much because of the passion, energy and drive that she brought to our Herd family daily. She was truly a unique and special person that challenged me to be a better coach and her teammates to always be all in.”

Cooper helped Marshall win the Conference USA tournament title in 2013 and reach the final three consecutive years (2012-14).She was a four-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and was a Conference USA Academic Medalist in 2012.

“The Marshall athletics family joins our softball program and the Cooper family in its time of loss,” the department said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to Emileigh’s family and the Marshall softball team. Emileigh was not only a proud Marshall alum, but had already started her journey to show other young athletes the way and we are very proud of her for that accomplishment. She will be greatly missed by all those in the Marshall family and she will forever be a daughter of Marshall.”

— Courtesy of Herdzone.com (Marshall University Athletics)