PROVIDENCE, R.I. – USF has been selected as the favorite in the 2019 American Athletic Conference Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as selected by the conference’s head coaches.
Only four points separated the first three places in the preseason poll after The American placed four of its eight teams in the 2018 NCAA Championship.
The Bulls received four first-place votes for 45 total points to take the honor. USF enters 2019 after winning the American Athletic Conference regular season championship a year ago and advancing to their 14
th NCAA Tournament in program history. Reigning American Rookie of the Year and co-Pitcher of the Year Georgina Corrick returns to the circle to lead the Bulls after a 15-win freshman season with a 1.68 ERA and 164 strikeouts.
Wichita State claimed the second spot in the preseason poll. The Shockers received three first-place votes and 43 total points. Wichita State also played in the 2018 NCAA postseason, advancing to their first-ever Regional final and tallying a pair of wins against Oklahoma State as part of their play in the Fayetteville Regional. The Shockers return all-conference selections Laurie Derrico (11 homer runs), Ryleigh Buck (10 doubles), Bailee Nickerson (six doubles, seven home runs) and Bailey Lange (20 wins, 184 strikeouts).
Houston was picked third with 41 points and one first-place vote. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, and return all five of their All-Conference players from a year ago, including co-Pitcher of the Year Savannah Heebner. Heebner won 26 games and had a 1.15 ERA in 2018, both top marks in the conference, while she also hit for a .314 average at the plate.
Tulsa won its third-consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship last May and is picked fourth (29 points) in the coaches’ poll. UCF is fifth with 26 points, followed by ECU in sixth with 15 points and UConn (14 points) in seventh. ECU rounds out the eight-team poll with 11 points.
The 2019 softball season begins Thursday, Feb. 7 while conference play starts Friday, Mar. 22. The 2019 American Softball Championship will take place May 9-11 at Cougar Softball Stadium in Houston, Texas.
|
Team (First Place Votes) |
Pts. |
| 1. |
USF (4) |
45 |
| 2. |
Wichita State (3) |
43 |
| 3. |
Houston (1) |
41 |
| 4. |
Tulsa |
29 |
| 5. |
UCF |
26 |
| 6. |
ECU |
15 |
| 7. |
Memphis |
14 |
| 8. |
UConn |
11 |