Bowling Green State University Athletics
Seniors Aspen Searle (left), Alivia Forshey (center) & Laine Simmons
Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications
Falcons Picked to Finish Fifth in East Division
February 09, 2018 | Softball
MAC office releases preseason coaches poll
The Bowling Green State University softball team has been predicted to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference's East Division in 2018, according to the league's preseason poll. The poll, the result of voting by the MAC's 12 head coaches, was released on Friday morning (Feb. 9) by the conference office.
BGSUÂ SOFTBALL LINKS
WEEKLY NOTES:Â Falcons Head to Cleveland as 2018 Season Begins
BGSU SCHEDULE: Includes links to live stats for this weekend)
THE MAC:Â 2018 Composite Schedule.
PHOTO GALLERY:Â Tuesday's (Feb. 6) practice/scrimmage
Kent State was predicted to win the East Division, while Northern Illinois was selected to finish atop the West Division. KSU received six of the 12 votes to capture the East, and the Golden Flashes also picked up three votes to win the conference tournament.
Ohio was picked to finish second in the East, followed by Miami, Akron, BGSU and Buffalo.
In the West, NIU garnered four first-place votes. Ball State was picked to finish second, followed by Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo and Eastern Michigan.
A total of six teams received votes to win the league tournament. In addition to KSU's three votes, four teams -- Akron, BSU, NIU and Ohio -- garnered two votes apiece, while UT was given one vote.
Head coach Sarah Willis and her staff welcome back 11 letterwinners, including five positional starters, from a year ago. Three of te four pitchers who saw action last season return, and that trio combined to pitch 93.9% of the team's innings a year ago. Additionally, Willis and Company also welcome a total of 11 newcomers, including eight freshmen and three transfers, to the 2018 roster.
The Falcons, picked to finish sixth (i.e., last) in the East Division a year ago, wound up as close to first place as to last. BGSU finished with an overall record of 24-32 and a 10-14 MAC mark. BG finished seven games out of first, and seven games ahead of the sixth-place finisher.
The 2018 Falcons begin the season this weekend, as BGSU is scheduled to play five games in the CSU Dome Tournament. BG is slated to meet Niagara and Cleveland State on Friday, with the NU game scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and the contest against the host Vikings set for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch.
The complete MAC Preseason Poll, with first-place votes and points received, follows...
2018 MAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
EAST DIVISION
1 - Kent State - 62 pts. (6 FPV)
2 - Ohio - 58 (3)
3 - Miami - 51 (2)
4 - Akron - 41 (1)
5 - Bowling Green - 27Â
6 - Buffalo - 13
Â
WEST DIVISION:
1 - Northern Illinois - 60 (4)
2 - Ball State - 55 (2)
3 - Central Michigan - 53 (5)
4 - Western Michigan - 34Â
5 - Toledo - 33 (1)
6 - Eastern Michigan - 17Â
VOTES TO WIN 2018 MAC TOURNAMENT:Â Kent State 3; Akron, BSU, NIU, Ohio 2; Toledo 1.
BGSUÂ SOFTBALL LINKS
WEEKLY NOTES:Â Falcons Head to Cleveland as 2018 Season Begins
BGSU SCHEDULE: Includes links to live stats for this weekend)
THE MAC:Â 2018 Composite Schedule.
PHOTO GALLERY:Â Tuesday's (Feb. 6) practice/scrimmage
Kent State was predicted to win the East Division, while Northern Illinois was selected to finish atop the West Division. KSU received six of the 12 votes to capture the East, and the Golden Flashes also picked up three votes to win the conference tournament.
Ohio was picked to finish second in the East, followed by Miami, Akron, BGSU and Buffalo.
In the West, NIU garnered four first-place votes. Ball State was picked to finish second, followed by Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo and Eastern Michigan.
A total of six teams received votes to win the league tournament. In addition to KSU's three votes, four teams -- Akron, BSU, NIU and Ohio -- garnered two votes apiece, while UT was given one vote.
Head coach Sarah Willis and her staff welcome back 11 letterwinners, including five positional starters, from a year ago. Three of te four pitchers who saw action last season return, and that trio combined to pitch 93.9% of the team's innings a year ago. Additionally, Willis and Company also welcome a total of 11 newcomers, including eight freshmen and three transfers, to the 2018 roster.
The Falcons, picked to finish sixth (i.e., last) in the East Division a year ago, wound up as close to first place as to last. BGSU finished with an overall record of 24-32 and a 10-14 MAC mark. BG finished seven games out of first, and seven games ahead of the sixth-place finisher.
The 2018 Falcons begin the season this weekend, as BGSU is scheduled to play five games in the CSU Dome Tournament. BG is slated to meet Niagara and Cleveland State on Friday, with the NU game scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and the contest against the host Vikings set for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch.
The complete MAC Preseason Poll, with first-place votes and points received, follows...
2018 MAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
EAST DIVISION
1 - Kent State - 62 pts. (6 FPV)
2 - Ohio - 58 (3)
3 - Miami - 51 (2)
4 - Akron - 41 (1)
5 - Bowling Green - 27Â
6 - Buffalo - 13
Â
WEST DIVISION:
1 - Northern Illinois - 60 (4)
2 - Ball State - 55 (2)
3 - Central Michigan - 53 (5)
4 - Western Michigan - 34Â
5 - Toledo - 33 (1)
6 - Eastern Michigan - 17Â
VOTES TO WIN 2018 MAC TOURNAMENT:Â Kent State 3; Akron, BSU, NIU, Ohio 2; Toledo 1.
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