BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team was picked eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted on by the 16 head coaches in the league. The announcement came today from the NSIC office.
 
For the third consecutive season, Augustana University was chosen as the favorite in the NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll. This marks the fourth time (2012, 2020 & 2021) that the Vikings have been selected by the coaches to win the league. The Vikings were the unanimous choice as they amassed 225 points and 15 first place votes (coaches cannot rank their own team). Minnesota State was second with 209 points and the other first place vote. 
 
Winona State was third in the poll with 198 points while Minnesota Duluth was fourth with 176 points, and St. Cloud State rounded out the top five with 162 points. 
 
Concordia-St. Paul was selected sixth earning 160 points, followed by Minot State (135), SMSU (128), Sioux Falls (117) and Northern State (108) rounding out the top 10. Upper Iowa was picked 11th with 83 points, followed by Bemidji State (62), Mary (58), MSU Moorhead (37), Wayne State (33) and Minnesota Crookston (29).
 
Augustana senior outfielder Mary Pardo was named the league's preseason Player of the Year, while Minnesota State senior pitcher Mackenzie Ward was named the preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
SMSU junior pitcher Shelby Bloemendaal and senior outfielder Bailey Johnson were both named "Players to Watch" in the conference this season. Bloemendaal lead the way in the circle for the Mustang last season firing a team-high 124 2/3 innings and 11 complete games, finishing with a 9-8 record with a 3.87 ERA. Johnson was a 2021 All-NSIC Second Team member after batting .344 with a team-high .441 on-base percentage. She hit 16 doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.004 OPS.
 
The 2022 Mustangs softball team mixes a strong group of veterans and newcomers, attempting build off a 2021 season that saw the programs first winning record in conference play since 2011, finishing 27-20 overall and 17-13 in NSIC action. The team is one of the youngest in the conference, with just one senior and two juniors mixed in with nine sophomores and seven freshmen.  
 
The SMSU offense returns four starters, including an all-NSIC second teamer in Johnson. Johnson hit .344 with a team-high .441 on-base percentage and 19 walks while adding 16 doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.004 OPS. Sophomore infielder Jillian Noel returns after a breakout first full season, hitting .311 with 14 doubles and 27 RBI. Junior Lileya Kebos also returns after hitting .303 and leading the team with five triples and eight stolen bases a season ago. Sophomore Molly Bull will lead the team behind the plate after starting 30 games and hitting .253 a season ago.  
 
Bloemendaal and sophomore Allison Christians will lead the way for the Mustangs in the circle, bringing experience and prior success. Bloemendaal has led the staff in innings pitched in each of the last two seasons, finishing with 124 2/3 last year while going 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA, adding 11 complete games and 69 strikeouts in 23 appearances. Christians is back after appearing in 21 games last season, striking out 58 hitters in 58 1/3 innings of work and finishing with a 3.48 ERA.   
 
The Mustangs are currently conducting practice inside the PE Gym and R/A Facility and are scheduled to open its 55-game regular season on Feb. 4 with a pair of games at the Minnesota State DII Softball Classic at the MSU Dome. SMSU will begin its 30-game NSIC season at Sioux Falls on March 29 and will have its first home doubleheader on April 6 versus Minnesota State.