The Radford softball team was picked to finish fifth for the second consecutive season in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Big South preseason rankings
- 1. Longwood (5) 60
- 2. Liberty (1) 56
- 3. Campbell (1) 43
- 4. Charleston Southern (1) 41
- 5. Radford 31
- 6. Winthrop 26
- 7. Presbyterian 16
- 8. Gardner-Webb 15
The Highlanders earned 31 points in the poll, which is based on a weighted system. Radford finished 10 points behind fourth-place Charleston Southern.
The poll looks the same as it did a season ago in 2017 as Longwood sits atop the ballot with five first place votes and 60 points. Liberty, Campbell and Charleston Southern each collected one first place vote, but are separated by 15 points.
The Flames come in just four points shy of tying for first place in the polls with 56. Campbell is 13 points away from Liberty with 43 of their own and just two ahead of Charleston Southern, who tallied 41.
The Highlanders are five points ahead of Winthrop (26), who comes in at sixth place. Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb round at the preseason poll at seventh and eighth respectively.
Liberty swept the preseason players of the year ballot as Amber Bishop, the Flames second baseman, was voted Preseason Player of the Year. Ace pitcher, Julia DiMartino, earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Defensively, 2017 All-Big South Honorable Mention pitcher, Abby Morrow, leads Radford. Morrow topped the Big South in wins with 20 last year. On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore Hunter Mundy led the Highlanders with a .323 batting average and 50 hits as a freshman. Her stellar rookie season guided her to earn All-Big South First Team and Big South All-Freshman Team honors.
The Highlanders open their season on Feb. 9 against ETSU in Statesboro, Ga., competing in the Eagle Round Robin hosted by Georgia Southern. Radford will play five games during the opening weekend.
–RU Athletics
