Mid-American Conference Releases 2020 Softball Preseason Poll

Mid-American Conference Releases 2020 Softball Preseason Poll

February 05 | Softball

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CLEVELAND, Ohio– The Mid-American Conference released its preseason coaches' poll ahead of the 2020 softball campaign that saw the Akron softball team picked to place 10^that the conclusion of the upcoming season.

Picked by the league's 11 head coaches, the Miami RedHawks were predicted to claim the 2020 MAC regular-season title after turning in a 35-16 record in 2019.

Following the RedHawks in the poll is Kent State (2^nd, 112), Ball State (3^rd, 90), Ohio (4^th, 86), Toledo (5^th, 68), Central Michigan (6^th, 66), Northern Illinois (7^th, 65), Western Michigan (8^th, 48), Bowling Green (9^th, 32), Akron (10^th, 25), and Buffalo (11^th, 21).

Miami and Kent State each received five votes to win the 2020 MAC Tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio on May 9-12, while Ball State also earned one first-place vote.

Akron heads into its 43^rdseason of competition in 2020. Under first-year head coach, Meaggan Pettipiece, the Zips return 11 letterwinners from UA's 2019 squad including its top-three batting leaders in redshirt junior Sydney Jascoe (Commerce, Mich.), junior Kayla Wulf (Maumee, Ohio), and senior Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio). The trio recorded a combined 120 hits, 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and 57 RBI.

Joining the Zips roster in 2020 are 10 newcomers; Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio), Molly McChesney (Verona, Wisc.), Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio), Maggie Sons (Dalzell, Ill.), Lauren Frigyes (Paris, Ohio), Hailey Eckelberry (Medina, Ohio), Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio), Alex DiFeo (Akron, Ohio), and Shelby Fortune (Grafton, Ohio).

The Zips begin the 2020 campaign competing at the 2020 Samford Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. on Feb. 7-9. Akron takes on Eastern Illinois (Feb. 7), Winthrop (Feb. 7-8), and Samford (Feb. 8-9).