Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked to Finish Eighth
February 06, 2019 | Softball
MAC office releases preseason coaches poll
The Bowling Green State University softball team has been predicted to finish eighth in the Mid-American Conference in 2019, according to the league's preseason poll. The poll, the result of voting by the MAC's 11 head coaches, was released on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 6) by the conference office.
Ball State was picked to win the MAC regular-season title, while Kent State was tabbed to finish second. After 21 years of two six-team divisions, the MAC has eliminated divisions for the sport of softball beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.
Ohio was third in the poll, followed by Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Miami, Central Michigan, BGSU, Toledo, Akron and Buffalo.
Ball State garnered six first-place votes to win the regular-season crown, while Kent State received two votes and Ohio and BGSU one apiece.
BSU was the choice of seven league coaches to capture the MAC Tournament title as well, while BGSU, KSU and Ohio each received one vote to win the tourney crown.
Head coach Sarah Willis and her staff welcome back 14 letterwinners, including six positional starters, from a year ago. Those six players include four – Sammy Dees, Sarah Gonzalez, Kali Holcomb and Alex Sorgi – who started all 52 of the team's games.
The returning hitters combined for 66.2 percent of the team's at-bats, 61.8% of the hits, 72.8% of the runs scored and 64.8% of the RBI in 2018.
Four of the five pitchers who saw action last season return, and that quartet combined to pitch 99.2% of the team's innings a year ago. That group also combined for 100% of the pitching staff's wins and strikeouts.
Additionally, Willis and Company also welcome a total of eight newcomers to the 2019 roster.
BGSU wrapped up the 2018 regular-season schedule with an overall record of 26-26, posting the program's highest win total in five years, and the Falcons finished fourth in the East Division with an 8-14 league ledger a year ago.
The Falcons open the season next Friday, Feb. 15, with the first two of five scheduled games in the Upstate Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. BGSU will meet Boston University and the host school, USC Upstate, on that date, and the Brown and Orange will face Virginia Tech and Connecticut the following day before wrapping up weekend action with a Sunday rematch with BU.
The MAC opener is scheduled for Friday, March 22, at Ohio, and the Falcons' home opener is slated for seven days later (Friday, March 29) vs. Toledo.
The complete MAC Preseason Poll, with first-place votes and points received, follows...
2019 MAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Ball State - 105 pts, (6 FPV)
2. Kent State - 93 (2)
3. Ohio - 80 (1)
4. Western Michigan - 60
5. Northern Illinois - 66
6. Miami - 65
7. Central Michigan - 62
8. Bowling Green - 43 (1)
9. Toledo - 42
10. Akron - 18
11. Buffalo - 17
VOTES TO WIN 2019 MAC TOURNAMENT:Â Ball State 7; BGSU, KSU, Ohio 1.
Ball State was picked to win the MAC regular-season title, while Kent State was tabbed to finish second. After 21 years of two six-team divisions, the MAC has eliminated divisions for the sport of softball beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.
Ohio was third in the poll, followed by Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Miami, Central Michigan, BGSU, Toledo, Akron and Buffalo.
Ball State garnered six first-place votes to win the regular-season crown, while Kent State received two votes and Ohio and BGSU one apiece.
BSU was the choice of seven league coaches to capture the MAC Tournament title as well, while BGSU, KSU and Ohio each received one vote to win the tourney crown.
Head coach Sarah Willis and her staff welcome back 14 letterwinners, including six positional starters, from a year ago. Those six players include four – Sammy Dees, Sarah Gonzalez, Kali Holcomb and Alex Sorgi – who started all 52 of the team's games.
The returning hitters combined for 66.2 percent of the team's at-bats, 61.8% of the hits, 72.8% of the runs scored and 64.8% of the RBI in 2018.
Four of the five pitchers who saw action last season return, and that quartet combined to pitch 99.2% of the team's innings a year ago. That group also combined for 100% of the pitching staff's wins and strikeouts.
Additionally, Willis and Company also welcome a total of eight newcomers to the 2019 roster.
BGSU wrapped up the 2018 regular-season schedule with an overall record of 26-26, posting the program's highest win total in five years, and the Falcons finished fourth in the East Division with an 8-14 league ledger a year ago.
The Falcons open the season next Friday, Feb. 15, with the first two of five scheduled games in the Upstate Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. BGSU will meet Boston University and the host school, USC Upstate, on that date, and the Brown and Orange will face Virginia Tech and Connecticut the following day before wrapping up weekend action with a Sunday rematch with BU.
The MAC opener is scheduled for Friday, March 22, at Ohio, and the Falcons' home opener is slated for seven days later (Friday, March 29) vs. Toledo.
The complete MAC Preseason Poll, with first-place votes and points received, follows...
2019 MAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Ball State - 105 pts, (6 FPV)
2. Kent State - 93 (2)
3. Ohio - 80 (1)
4. Western Michigan - 60
5. Northern Illinois - 66
6. Miami - 65
7. Central Michigan - 62
8. Bowling Green - 43 (1)
9. Toledo - 42
10. Akron - 18
11. Buffalo - 17
VOTES TO WIN 2019 MAC TOURNAMENT:Â Ball State 7; BGSU, KSU, Ohio 1.
Players Mentioned
SS/2B
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
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