WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Mount Union's softball team was picked to finish first in the Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Purple Raiders are coming off their second OAC Championship in three seasons and their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. They return the reigning OAC Pitcher of the Year in senior Kendyll Cahill (Groveport / Groveport Madison) and the reigning OAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore Allison Jones (Berlin Center / Western Reserve), along with another pair of All-OAC selections from last season in seniors Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) and Faith Reicosky (North Canton / Hoover).

Mount Union opens their season at the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. On Friday, March 6, where they will take on LaGrange at 10 a.m.

OAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Mount Union             61(6)
2. Baldwin Wallace        54 (2)
3. Muskingum                 53 (1)
4. Marietta                      34
5. Ohio Northern             32
6. Capital                        31
7. Wilmington                 24
8. Heidelberg                  22
9. Otterbein                     12

**First place votes in parentheses, coaches could not vote for their own team in the poll