Softball Picked to Finish Eighth in Southland Preseason Poll
1/31/2018 2:21:00 PM | Softball
Ladyjacks tie with Southeastern Louisiana for eighth in the league’s preseason poll with 105 total points
FRISCO, Texas – By a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors the Stephen F. Austin softball team has been selected to finish eighth in the 2018 Southland Conference Preseason Poll. The Ladyjacks picked up a total of 105 points in the voting to tie with Southeastern Louisiana for eighth on the list. The eighth-place tie represents one of two ties in the preseason poll as Abilene Christian and Nicholls tied for second with 205 points apiece.
McNeese, who has claimed back-to-back regular season and tournament Southland crowns, claimed all possible first-place votes for the second consecutive year to be tabbed the preseason favorite. With head coaches and SIDs not permitted to vote for their own team, Abilene Christian grabbed the remaining two first-place votes. Lamar finished fourth in the voting with 190 points, followed by Central Arkansas fifth (145), Northwestern State sixth (134), Sam Houston State seventh (126), Houston Baptist 10th (51), Incarnate Word 11th (42) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 12th (34).
SFA enters its 2018 campaign seeking to build off of head coach Nicole Dickson's first season in Nacogdoches. The Ladyjacks went 17-33 overall in 2017 but picked up a pair of wins over Mountain West Conference member New Mexico and earned a victory over the Big Ten's Maryland during non-conference play. Going 9-15 in Southland play, SFA posted series wins over Sam Houston State, HBU and UIW last season.
With the league's tournament field expanded to eight teams, the Ladyjacks will be attempting to reach the conference tournament after a one-year absence. SFA faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Nicholls, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, HBU, UIW, McNeese and Abilene Christian in its 27-game Southland slate. Two of the top teams in the league will visit the SFA Softball Field this season with defending Southland champion McNeese arriving in Nacogdoches April 27-28 and Abilene Christian visiting May 4-5. The Ladyjacks will also host league series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 9-10), Sam Houston State (March 30-31) and Central Arkansas (April 6-7).
The journey to the 2018 Southland Softball Tournament will end at McNeese's Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where the league tournament will be held May 9-11.
With 11 newcomers and 10 returning letter winners from a year ago, SFA will showcase both new and veteran talent this season. Six seniors, including preseason All-Southland First Team catcher Amber Landry (Ponchatoula, La.) and pitchers Callee Guffey (Waco, Texas) and Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas), along with outfielder Autumn Holloway (Cypress, Texas), catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas) and utility player Madison Selman (Lufkin, Texas), will look to lead the 2018 squad. The Ladyjacks welcome five true freshman and six transfers who will be in the Purple and White for the first time this spring. Three of SFA's six transfers will begin their Ladyjack careers as juniors after successful junior college careers. SFA also brings back junior infielder Lauren Becker (Cypress, Texas) and a trio of sophomores in infielder/outfielder Brittany Crawford (League City, Texas), right-handed pitcher Jordan Llinas (Houston, Texas) and outfielder Madison Clements (Pearland, Texas) from the 2017 season.
The Ladyjacks begin their 2018 campaign in a little over a week when they travel to Monroe, Louisiana, for Louisiana-Monroe's Mardi Gras Classic held Friday-Sunday, Feb. 9-11, at the ULM Softball Complex. SFA opens up the season by taking on UT Martin Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 a.m., followed by Chattanooga at 10 a.m. On Saturday, the Ladyjacks will face Grambling State at 5 p.m. before playing Louisiana-Monroe in a true road game at 9 p.m. SFA's play in the tournament will conclude Sunday with a 10:15 a.m. contest against Prairie View A&M.
Texas Southern will visit Nacogdoches for the Ladyjacks' home opener Wednesday, Feb. 28. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. from the SFA Softball Field.
Tickets to SFA's home games can be purchased at the gate on game days.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the season.
Complete Southland Conference Preseason Poll (first place votes)
-SFA-
McNeese, who has claimed back-to-back regular season and tournament Southland crowns, claimed all possible first-place votes for the second consecutive year to be tabbed the preseason favorite. With head coaches and SIDs not permitted to vote for their own team, Abilene Christian grabbed the remaining two first-place votes. Lamar finished fourth in the voting with 190 points, followed by Central Arkansas fifth (145), Northwestern State sixth (134), Sam Houston State seventh (126), Houston Baptist 10th (51), Incarnate Word 11th (42) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 12th (34).
SFA enters its 2018 campaign seeking to build off of head coach Nicole Dickson's first season in Nacogdoches. The Ladyjacks went 17-33 overall in 2017 but picked up a pair of wins over Mountain West Conference member New Mexico and earned a victory over the Big Ten's Maryland during non-conference play. Going 9-15 in Southland play, SFA posted series wins over Sam Houston State, HBU and UIW last season.
With the league's tournament field expanded to eight teams, the Ladyjacks will be attempting to reach the conference tournament after a one-year absence. SFA faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Nicholls, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Central Arkansas, HBU, UIW, McNeese and Abilene Christian in its 27-game Southland slate. Two of the top teams in the league will visit the SFA Softball Field this season with defending Southland champion McNeese arriving in Nacogdoches April 27-28 and Abilene Christian visiting May 4-5. The Ladyjacks will also host league series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 9-10), Sam Houston State (March 30-31) and Central Arkansas (April 6-7).
The journey to the 2018 Southland Softball Tournament will end at McNeese's Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where the league tournament will be held May 9-11.
With 11 newcomers and 10 returning letter winners from a year ago, SFA will showcase both new and veteran talent this season. Six seniors, including preseason All-Southland First Team catcher Amber Landry (Ponchatoula, La.) and pitchers Callee Guffey (Waco, Texas) and Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas), along with outfielder Autumn Holloway (Cypress, Texas), catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas) and utility player Madison Selman (Lufkin, Texas), will look to lead the 2018 squad. The Ladyjacks welcome five true freshman and six transfers who will be in the Purple and White for the first time this spring. Three of SFA's six transfers will begin their Ladyjack careers as juniors after successful junior college careers. SFA also brings back junior infielder Lauren Becker (Cypress, Texas) and a trio of sophomores in infielder/outfielder Brittany Crawford (League City, Texas), right-handed pitcher Jordan Llinas (Houston, Texas) and outfielder Madison Clements (Pearland, Texas) from the 2017 season.
The Ladyjacks begin their 2018 campaign in a little over a week when they travel to Monroe, Louisiana, for Louisiana-Monroe's Mardi Gras Classic held Friday-Sunday, Feb. 9-11, at the ULM Softball Complex. SFA opens up the season by taking on UT Martin Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 a.m., followed by Chattanooga at 10 a.m. On Saturday, the Ladyjacks will face Grambling State at 5 p.m. before playing Louisiana-Monroe in a true road game at 9 p.m. SFA's play in the tournament will conclude Sunday with a 10:15 a.m. contest against Prairie View A&M.
Texas Southern will visit Nacogdoches for the Ladyjacks' home opener Wednesday, Feb. 28. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. from the SFA Softball Field.
Tickets to SFA's home games can be purchased at the gate on game days.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the season.
Complete Southland Conference Preseason Poll (first place votes)
| 1. | McNeese (22) | 242 |
| T2. | Abilene Christian (2) | 205 |
| T2. | Nicholls | 205 |
| 4. | Lamar | 190 |
| 5. | Central Arkansas | 145 |
| 6. | Northwestern State | 134 |
| 7. | Sam Houston State | 126 |
| T8. | Southeastern Louisiana | 105 |
| T8. | Stephen F. Austin | 105 |
| 10. | Houston Baptist | 51 |
| 11. | UIW | 42 |
| 12. | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 34 |
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