KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday its 2020 softball preseason poll and slated Western Michigan to finish eighth in the conference.
The Broncos finished their 2019 season with a record of 18-28 with a 9-11 mark in conference play. In the MAC Tournament, the No. 8 seeded Broncos fell to Miami in the first round before falling 8-0 to Northern Illinois in an elimination game.
2020 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Miami - 113
2. Kent State - 112
3. Ball State - 90
4. Ohio - 86
5. Toledo - 68
6. Central Michigan - 66
7. Northern Illinois - 65
8. Western Michigan - 48
9. Bowling Green - 32
10. Akron - 25
11. Buffalo - 21
BRONCOS IN THE SUNSHINE
Western Michigan will head to Tempe, Ariz., for the tenth time in 11 years for the Kajikawa Classic. The Broncos will play five games over three days starting on Friday against several top-25 teams from the PAC-12 and SEC.
No. 22 Arizona State again will serve as host of the annual tournament and welcomes eight teams with No. 5 Arizona, No. 12 Tennessee, Western Michigan, Utah, Kansas, Portland State, Northwestern and Seattle University.
Western Michigan will face Portland State, Utah, Arizona, the host Sun Devils and Tennessee, concluding competition at the tournament on Sunday.
GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Portland State • 1:00 PM ET/11:00 AM MT • Tempe Sports Complex
Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Utah • 12:30 PM ET/2:30 PM MT • Tempe Sports Complex
Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. No. 5 Arizona • 1:30 PM EST/11:30 AM MT • Farrington Stadium
Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. No. 22 Arizona State • 2:30 PM ET/4:30 PM MT • Farrington Stadium
Sunday, Feb. 9 vs. No. 12 Tennessee • 11:30 AM ET/9:30 AM MT • Tempe Sports Complex
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Live Stats:Visit the WMU Schedule Page
Watch Live: Pac 12 Network / FloSoftball
Follow us on Twitter: @WMUSoftball
Tournament Info: Tournament Central
ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Western Michigan brings back 12 members from last year's squad. Ten upperclassmen make their return, including five seniors and five juniors. Sydney Stefanick returns for her junior season after a campaign that earned her NFCA DI All-Region First Team and All-MAC First Team accolades. The pitcher led the Broncos with a 3.05 ERA and a 10-10 record with 97 strikeouts.
Kaylen Glenfield is back for her final year with the Broncos, returning with Second Team All-MAC honors and a .325 batting average from the previous season and holding a tie for WMU's single-game record of five hits in a game.
WMU is under the direction of head coach Kathy Leitke, who is entering her 20th season at Western Michigan and is the Broncos' all-time winningest softball coach.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Portland State Vikings are coming off a successful 2019 season, the first 20-win season since 2013, finishing with a 20-31 overall record. The Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll slated the Vikings third overall, behind Weber State and Sacramento State. Third-year head coach Meadow McWhorter welcomes four newcomers, and a senior class that includes nine players who have combined for 748 starts over the last three seasons.
Arizona was named a top-five team by every major softball preseason ranking. The Wildcats are ranked fifth in the nation by the NFCA, USA Softball, Softball America and FloSoftball. Arizona is the No. 3 team in D1softball.com's inaugural preseason top 25. Arizona went 48-14 and advanced to its 23rd Women's College World Series in 2019. The Wildcats return seven position starters and four pitchers from the 2019 team, including three All-Americans. The Wildcats have finished in the top three of the PAC-12 in 28 of head coach Mike Candrea's 34 seasons with the squad.
Arizona State was selected to finish fourth in the PAC-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll, and has earned several top-25 preseason rankings. The Sun Devils were ranked No. 22 by the NFCA in the preseason, a two-spot improvement from its No. 24 finish last season. FloSoftball ranked ASU at No. 20, while Softball America and D1softball.com placed the Sun Devils at No. 24 and No. 23, respectively. Led by fourth-year head coach Trisha Ford, Arizona State concluded 2019 at 35-20 with its 15th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Utah received an eighth-place finish prediction in the PAC-12 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Utes ended 2019 with a 19-35 overall record and a seventh-place finish in the conference under 12-year head coach Amy Hogue. Utah has appeared in 15 NCAA Tournaments in its history. The Utes welcome six newcomers with 14 returners.
No. 12 Tennessee begins the season ranked in the top 25 for the 17th consecutive year. It is predicted to finish second in the SEC behind powerhouse Alabama. The Lady Vols wrapped up last season 43-17 overall and 14-10 in the conference. They made their 11th appearance in the NCAA Super Regional before falling in extra innings to Florida. Co-coaches Karen Weekly and Ralph Weekly are back for their 18th season at the helm of Tennessee softball, with a combined 52 years of head coaching experience under their belts.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Broncos continue on a lengthy road stretch throughout the months of February and March, with their next stop at the Bruin Challenge at Belmont University, beginning Friday, Feb. 14.
