Softball | February 06, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday its 2019 softball preseason poll and predicted Western Michigan to finish fourth in the conference.

The Broncos finished their 2018 season with a record of 29-25, going 14-10 in conference play. In the MAC Tournament, the Broncos defeated Miami in an elimination game before falling to Toledo.

2019 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Ball State – 105 (6)
2. Kent State - 93 (2)
3. Ohio - 80 (1)
4. Western Michigan - 69
5. Northern Illinois - 66
6. Miami - 65
7. Central Michigan - 62
8. Bowling Green – 43 (1)
9. Toledo – 42
10. Akron - 18
11. Buffalo – 17

BRONCOS HEAD TO THE SOUTHWEST
Western Michigan opens its 2019 season in the desert for the ninth time in 10 years at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Broncos will play five games over three days, beginning Friday, Feb. 8 and concluding on Sunday, Feb. 10.

No. 12 ranked Arizona State serves as the host of the annual Kajikawa Classic and this year welcomes 11 teams including Bradley, Kansas, California State-Northridge, RV Missouri, No. 25 Oregon, RV Oregon State, Seattle, Stanford, Utah, Weber State, and Western Michigan.

Western Michigan will face Utah, No. 12 Arizona State, Stanford, California State-Northridge, and RV Oregon State.

GAME SCHEDULE
Western Michigan will play Arizona State at Farrington Stadium, the remainder of the WMU games will be played at the Tempe Sports Complex.
Friday, Feb. 8 vs. Utah • 1:00 PM ET/11:00 AM MT
Friday, Feb. 8 vs. No. 12 Arizona State • 6:30 PM ET/4:30 PM MT
Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. Stanford • 1:30 PM EST/11:30 AM MT
Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. California State-Northridge • 7:00 PM ET/5 PM MT
Sunday, Feb. 10 vs. RV Oregon State • 11:00 AM ET/9:00 AM MT

STAY CONNECTED
Follow us on Twitter: @WMUSoftball
Live Stats: Visit the WMU Schedule Page
TV Game: WMU vs. No. 12 Arizona State – Pac 12 Network
Live Stream Game: WMU vs. CSUN - FloSoftball

ABOUT THE BRONCOS
• Western Michigan brings back a talented core of players from a team that last year posted 29 wins and set season records for team doubles (76), team home runs (43), and team RBIs (215).
• A total of 11 upperclassmen return for the Broncos; six seniors and five juniors. The defense is led by Second Team All-MAC senior starting pitcher Jordan Kurth. Kurth returns after finishing the season with a 12-8 record with a 2.97 ERA and 116 strikeouts. The offense is led by First Team All-MAC OF Samantha Coffel who lead the team in batting average (.365) and RBIs (39) as a freshman. Also leading the offense is junior OF Mackenzie Swinehart who batted .358, recorded 67 hits (third most in the MAC), and had 14 RBIs.
• WMU is under the direction of Kathy Leitke in her 19th season at WMU. She is the Broncos' all-time winningest softball coach.

LAST YEAR AT THE KAJIKAWA
The Broncos picked up two wins last year against a competitive Kajikawa Classic Field. Western Michigan defeated No. 19 ranked BYU 2-1 in their first game. Jordan Kurth struck out 10 batters and Samantha Coffel delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single in the fifth, in what was her first collegiate game. WMU's second win was a 15-7 victory over Big Ten opponent Purdue. The Broncos also faced No. 12 Tennessee, San Diego State, Seattle and No. 24 Oklahoma State at last year's Kajikawa.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
• Utah was selected to finish No. 7 in the 2019 PAC-12 Conference Preseason Poll. The Utes went 20-30 overall and 2-21 in PAC-12 play. Head coach Amy Hogue enters her 10th season at the helm and 18th with the program. Hogue has led the Utes to three NCAA Tournaments, including back-to-back Super Regional appearances in 2016 and 2017. USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist member junior OF Alyssa Barrera sported a .381 batting average with 23 RBIs, two home runs, and 47 runs scored.  

• Arizona State was tabbed as the No. 12 team in the country in both the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Preseason Poll and the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. They were also selected to finish 4th in the 2019 PAC-12 Preseason Poll. In 2018, the Sun Devils had their best season since 2013 with a 48-13 overall record, a 16-8 record in PAC-12 play, and an appearance in the NCAA World Series. Following the 2018 season, head coach Trisha Ford was named the PAC-12 Coach of the Year. Also in the spotlight is junior infielder Jade Gortare, who in 2018 sported a .287 batting average with 39 RBIs, eight homeruns, and 42 runs scored. Her performance on the field earned her a spot on the 2018 USA Women's National Team where she played in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup.

• Stanford went 24-31 overall and 3-21 in the PAC-12 during its 2018 campaign. The Cardinal have been pegged to finish eighth in the PAC-12 preseason poll after head coach Jessica Allister completed her first season at the helm. Prior to coming to The Farm, Allister took the Minnesota Gophers to a 56-5 record overall and a No. 1 national ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll for the first time in program history. Senior OF Molly Fowkes was added to the Israeli National Softball Team after hitting for a .195 batting average with 17 RBIs last season.

• California State – Northridge was picked fifth in the Big West Conference Preseason softball poll. Ninth-year head coach Tairia Flowers returns 19 letter winners, eight starters, and five pitchers that went 23-36 overall and 8-13 in the BWC.

• RV Oregon State received seven votes in the 2019 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll after going 30-28 overall and 9-14 in the PAC-12 last season. The Beavers' program advanced to the championship game of the regional for the first time in Laura Berg's six-year tutelage where they lost 6-0 to Alabama.  

LOOKING AHEAD
Following the Kajikawa Classic, Western Michigan travels to the Chattanooga Frost Classic in Tennessee Feb 22 – 24 where they will face five opponents over three days.