15 Jan 2025 Harding Softball picked third in GAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Posted at 8:16 PMh in Sports by

RUSSELLVILLE — On Tuesday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2025 GAC softball ballot. Southern Nazarene collected nine first-place votes to enter the season as the preseason favorite.

Photo courtesy of the Great American Conference.

In 2024, the Crimson Storm enjoyed their best season in their GAC era. They won 40 games for the first time, captured the GAC Championship title and won two NCAA Regional games. They return seven of their eight All-GAC performers in First-Team selections Hailey Evans, Emma Green, Kristen Mullendore and Janie Worthington and Honorable Mention picks Liana Heshiki, Kenedi Morelock and Emma Swearingen. Worthington led the GAC with 24 wins, ranked second in opponent’s batting average, .195 and placed third with 183 strikeouts. Evans hit .363 with a league-leading 57 RBI and 16 doubles. Green hit .364 with 17 stolen bases and five triples while Mullendore hit .331 with doubles. Heshiki, the GAC Tournament MVP, posted a .439 on-base percentage. Morelock ranked fourth in runs scored while Swearingen slugged .523 and drove in 38 runs.

Southern Arkansas, Harding and Oklahoma Baptist each received a first-place vote and placed second, third and fourth in the voting. The Muleriders reached the final of the GAC Championships and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth-straight year. They return two Second-Team All-GAC selections in pitcher Brinson Rogers and designated player Regan Dillon. Rogers, the GAC Newcomer of the Year, struck out 209 batters and won 14 games. Dillon ranked in the top three in the conference in walks, total bases, home runs, RBI, hits, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

The Lady Bisons went 34-18 a season ago and finished third in the regular season. They bring back four All-GAC honorees in outfielders Macy Ham, Kaya Lee and Lana Danielson plus pitcher Riley Price. Ham paced the GAC in average, hits and stolen bases. Price went 19-10 with five saves and a 2.48 ERA. She added a .289 average. Lee went 21-for-22 in stolen base attempts.

Oklahoma Baptist claimed fourth place following their second-straight GAC regular-season title and trip to the NCAA Tournament. They must replace their two standout pitchers – Kayleigh Jones and Maggie Place – with a first-year coach in Jace Brewer. He ascended to the head coach position following three seasons as an assistant to Sam Maples. His first team features three 2024 All-GAC selections in First-Team third baseman Ally Ryan, First-Team designated player Morgan Max and Second-Team outfielder Sammie Green. Ryan’s 18 home runs and .702 slugging percentage led the GAC. Max hit .370 with a .478 on-base percentage and 42 RBI. Green hit .322 with 42 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

Southeastern Oklahoma State took fifth, followed by Arkansas Tech. The Savage Storm’s Emily Simmons won nine games as a freshman and Sage Harlow returns after hitting .326 and 10 doubles. The Golden Suns bring back their three primary starting pitchers in Alexis Findley, Bradi Basler and Aidan Dayberry. Findley posted a 2.75 ERA in 89.0 innings of work. Basler went 7-5 and Dayberry went 6-4.

Arkansas-Monticello claimed seventh while Henderson State edged out Southwestern Oklahoma State and East Central for eighth. The Reddies qualified for the GAC Championships for the first time since 2018. Joel Worthington takes over as head coach following three seasons at Lane College where he posted a 93-46 record. Hilary Akers hit .353 with a .534 slugging percentage as a freshman. Brooke Johnson produced a 2.75 ERA inside the circle. SWOSU brings back two All-GAC selections in Jadyn Hook and Maddie Rahon. Hook’s .380 average and 60 hits ranked third in the league. Rahon hit .322 with 12 doubles. ECU’s Jami Watson returns after leading the team in average and RBI.

Ouachita Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the poll. The Tigers’ Baylee King returns after leading the team in runs scored. The Rangers’ Rachel Sherwood led the conference with seven triples. She hit .348 and her .582 slugging percentage ranked seventh.

Regular-season play begins on Friday, January 31. Seven schools – Southern Nazarene, Oklahoma Baptist, Arkansas Tech, Arkansas-Monticello, Southwestern Oklahoma State, East Central and Northwestern Oklahoma State – head to Branson, Missouri for the Branson Lead-off Classic. Southern Arkansas and Harding travel to Louisiana for the Mardi Gras Invitational. Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist co-host the Hawkins-McGhee Memorial Tournament while Southeastern Oklahoma State treks to Houston for the DII First Pitch Invitational.

The GAC Softball Championship takes place from Thursday, May 1 through Saturday, May 3 in Bentonville (Benton County) with the top eight teams competing for the title.