NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll: Preseason

Kansas City, Mo – For the second straight season, the UC softball team is ranked in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll. For the upcoming 2023 season, the Patriots are ranked 24^th, announced the national office on Wednesday. This marks just the second time in the program's history, since the fastpitch era, that the team is in the top-25 in the preseason.

Cumberlands finished the 2022 season with a 35-16 record, earning them 30+ wins for the sixth time in the program's history and the third time under Head Coach Bailey Dillender. The Patriots just missed out on postseason play last season, despite setting numerous program records. The team set the stolen base record, swiping 108 bases and also set the team ERA at 2.01. The Pats also placed seven individuals in the top-ten for season records.

As a team, Cumberlands returns 20 players from last year's squad and brings in nine newcomers mixing experience with youth for the 2023 season. Last year's team was fourth in the NAIA in double plays turned with 32. Offensively, the team had a .404 slugging percentage, driving in 243 runs ff 395 hits.

UC retains seven of their eight Mid-South All-Conference honorees from last year with Emily Bryant, Maddie Sickau and Hailey Wood on First Team, Talli Burgess, Emily Jasper, and Kaiti White on Second Team, and Morgan Radford earning Honorable Mention.

Cumberlands is one of four teams from the MSC in the poll. Freed-Hardeman has the highest ranking at fifth, followed by Campbellsville at 20^th. After Cumberlands at #24 is Lindsey Wilson who are receiving votes.

The Pats will open up their 2023 season on February 14, 2023 when they host Bryan College in a double header starting at 3PM ET at the UC Softball Complex.

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