RICHARDSON, Texas – McMurry University Softball was predicted to finish ninth in the American Southwest Conference this season, in a poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors released today by the league office.

The War Hawks finished 10-30, 6-24 ASC in their inaugural season a year ago, and will look to build off the successes that not many first-year programs achieve.

McMurry received 110 points in the poll, ahead of University of the Ozarks and behind LeTourneau University. With defending champion UT Tyler ineligible, East Texas Baptist University took the top spot in the poll with 15 first-place votes followed closely by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, who received nine first-place votes.

Concordia Texas, UT Dallas and Louisiana College rounded out the top five, with the Wildcats collecting one first-place vote. Belhaven University and Sul Ross State were sixth and seventh, respectively, ahead of the YellowJackets and War Hawks. Following Ozarks were Howard Payne University and Hardin-Simmons University.

Three War Hawks were named to the Preseason Watch List, led by senior first baseman Rachel Ripley. Joining Ripley on the Watch List are junior college transfers, junior pitcher/outfielder Hope Schoeneman and junior shortstop/catcher Mikayla Krause.

Ripley earned nearly every award in the book last season, including NFCA All-West Region and second team All-American Southwest Conference. She led the War Hawks in batting average (.395), hits (49), doubles (15), triples (3), home runs (6), runs batted in (38), slugging percentage (.710) on-base percentage (.437) and on base plus slugging percentage (1.147) and was second on the team in runs scored (25).

Schoeneman was primarily a pitcher last season at Odessa College. In 93 innings of work, she posted a 12-2 record and 2.56 ERA. She racked up 79 strikeouts compared to only 25 walks. Of her 14 starts, 11 were complete games. She was named WJCAC honorable mention for her efforts a year ago.

Krause put up near identical numbers to Ripley while playing as a teammate to Schoeneman last year at Odessa, hitting .385 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. She tallied 11 doubles, four triples, and 37 runs scored, as well.

McMurry will begin the season Friday and Saturday as they host the Abilene Round Robin with Hardin-Simmons University. The War Hawks will host Austin College and Millsaps College on Friday before hosting Schreiner University and Austin College once again on Saturday. More information, including live stat links and a tournament central page, can be found at mcmurrysports.com.
 

2019 ASC Softball Preseason Poll

# Eligible for ASC regular season title/ineligible for ASC Championship/NCAA Championship (NCAA Division III Provisional)
& Ineligible for ASC regular season title/ASC Championship/NCAA Championship (NCAA Division II Reclassifying)