ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson University softball team has been picked to finish third, as the 2020 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll was released by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

In addition, sophomore Kayson Boatner earned preseason All-SAC first-team honors while junior Kayla Pepper garnered preseason All-SAC second-team honors.

Boatner is coming off of a stellar freshman year campaign. The native of Fortson, Ga., hit a team-high 15 homeruns which was tied for first in the South Atlantic Conference. Boatner finished the season batting .353 while knocking in a team-high 57 RBI. For her efforts, she was named to the All-SAC First Team, SAC All-Tournament team, both the NFCA and D2CCA All-Southeast Region First Teams and the NFCA All-American Second Team and D2CCA All-American Honorable Mention.

Pepper started 29 games with 32 appearances, a season ago, pitching a team-high 188 innings. The native of Anderson, S.C. ranked second in the SAC in strikeouts while winning 16 contests for the Trojans. Pepper earned Pitcher of the Week Honors and was named to the SAC All-Tournament Team following the Black and Gold's tournament win.

The Trojans finished the 2019 season 33-22 overall and 10-10 in SAC play winning the SAC Tournament and advancing to the NCAA Southeast Regionals.

Lincoln Memorial (131 points), last year's regular season champion was voted as the preseason favorite while Carson-Newman (115 points) was selected second. Anderson, receiving one first place vote (100 points) was slotted third.

Lenoir-Rhyne (97 points) was picked fourth, followed by Wingate (92 points) in the fifth slot. Coker (87 points) was picked sixth with Newberry and Queens in the seventh and eighth spots, respectively. Catawba, Tusculum, Mars Hill and UVA-Wise rounded out the poll.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its top-25 preseason national poll today with the Trojans just outside of the rankings, receiving votes. The 2020 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. This poll will be released each week.

Anderson opens the season on the road on Feb. 1 at North Greenville. The Trojans open their home slate on Feb. 2 versus Winston-Salem State. First pitch of the opening road game is 12 pm.

SOFTBALL

2020 Softball Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

OF – Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman
OF – McKenzie Barneycastle, Newberry
OF – Emma Swenson, Wingate
1B – Mary Claire Coyne, Wingate
2B – Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Hannah Davis, Newberry
DP – Kayson Boatner, Anderson 
UTL – Aubrey Reep, Wingate
C – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Courtney Pearson, Queens
P – Isabelle Mullen, Coker

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Chloe Pelham, Coker
OF – Jordan Floyd, Wingate
1B – Haley Simonds, Newberry
2B – Brittney Franse, Tusculum
SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
3B –  Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
DP – McKenzie McCullen, Queens
UTL – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman
C – KaraLynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Kayla Pepper, Anderson
P – Selice Daley, Newberry