Northwestern State, McNeese State Favored to Win 2015 Southland Conference Softball Title

1/21/2015 1:59:46 PM

Southland Conference

FRISCO, Texas – Northwestern State, the two-time defending Southland Conference tournament champion, was tabbed by the league’s head coaches to win the Southland regular-season softball title, while McNeese State was picked to win its third consecutive regular-season title in a vote by the league’s sports information directors, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Northwestern State received 116 points in the coaches’ poll to claim the top spot and 109 points in the SID poll to finish second. The Lady Demons, who have claimed four regular-season championships and five tournament championships, received six first-place votes from the coaches and five from the SIDs. Northwestern State returns 13 letter winners, including five starters and four pitchers. Key players returning for the Lady Demons are three all-conference selections from a season ago, including third baseman Brittany Virgoe and designated player Cassandra Barefield, both two-time all-conference honorees, and outfielder Brittney Jones.

McNeese finished second in the coaches’ poll with 114 points and was selected first in the SID poll with 115 points. The Cowgirls received five first-place votes from the coaches and six first-place votes from the SIDs. McNeese has won four regular-season championships and three tournament titles. The Cowgirls return 14 letter winners, including six starters and three pitchers. Four all-conference selections from last year return for the Cowgirls, including 2014 Southland Pitcher of the Year and two-time all-conference selection Jamie Allred, outfielders Lauren Langner and Marisa Taunton and pitcher Rachel Smith.

Sam Houston State was picked third in both polls and received one first-place vote from the SIDs. The Bearkats received 97 votes from the coaches and 102 votes from the SIDs. Sam Houston State, which finished third in the Southland last season, returns 13 letter winners, four starters and three pitchers. The Bearkats will be led by two returning all-conference honorees in catcher Tiffany Castillo, a two-time selection, and first baseman Sarah Allison.

Stephen F. Austin was tabbed fourth by the coaches with one first-place vote followed by Central Arkansas fifth. The coaches picked Abilene Christian sixth, Lamar seventh, Houston Baptist eighth, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ninth and Southeastern Louisiana to finish the top 10. In the SID poll, UCA was selected fourth while SFA was picked fifth followed by HBU, Lamar and ACU, with Southeastern Louisiana and A&M-Corpus Christi rounding out the top 10.

Nicholls and UIW were chosen 11th and 12th respectively in both polls.

Since both Abilene Christian and UIW are in their second year of transition into Division I, they will not be eligible for postseason play until 2017-18.

Southland teams open the season Friday, Feb. 6 with conference play beginning Friday, March 6. The 2015 Southland Conference Softball Tournament will be hosted by Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., May 7-9 at Lady Demon Diamond. The championship round will air live exclusively on ESPN3, available at watchespn.com and the WatchESPN app. In addition, all other games of the tournament will be streamed live for free on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available via southland.org/watch and the Southland Conference app.

2015 Preseason Southland Softball Polls

Coaches’ Poll
1. Northwestern State (6)	116
2. McNeese State (5)	114
3. Sam Houston State	97
4. Stephen F. Austin (1)	90
5. Central Arkansas	82
6. Abilene Christian	65
7. Lamar	58
8. Houston Baptist	52
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	43
10. Southeastern Louisiana	39
11. Nicholls	24
12. UIW	12

SID Poll
1. McNeese State (6)	115
2. Northwestern State (5)	109
3. Sam Houston State (1)	102
4. Central Arkansas	81
5. Stephen F. Austin	80
6. Houston Baptist	62
7. Lamar	61
8. Abilene Christian	54
9. Southeastern Louisiana	48
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	43
11. Nicholls	24
12. UIW	13