SEMO ranked 3rd in preseason OVC softball poll

The Southeast Missouri State softball team, coming off its most wins since 2000, has been predicted to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Southeast received one first-place vote to tie with Tennessee Tech for third place in the OVC preseason poll announced Thursday. Voting was done by the league coaches.

Last season the Redhawks were within two outs of their first OVC tournament title and NCAA berth since 1999 before falling in the finals of the conference tournament. They went 29-21 overall and a second-place 16-8 in the OVC's regular season.

Lana Richmond, the OVC's winningest coach and last year's co-OVC coach of the year, begins her 28th season at Southeast returning seven position starters and her entire pitching staff.

Among the returnees are four players coming off second-team all-OVC seasons: senior catcher Alex Ramirez, senior outfielder Jennifer Vasquez, junior shortstop Nicole Troncoso and sophomore pitcher Giana Zimmerman, runner-up for OVC freshman of the year.

Three-time OVC regular-season champion Jacksonville State was selected to win the OVC title after going 43-16 last year, including 19-2 in OVC play. The Gamecocks received six first-place votes.

Defending OVC tournament champion Tennessee-Martin picked up two first-place votes and was picked second.

Morehead State was selected fifth. Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky tied for sixth, followed by first-year program Murray State, Tennessee State and Austin Peay.

Southeast begins the season Feb. 11 at Jackson State.