SLIAC Coaches Pick Red Devils Fifth in Preseason Softball Poll

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A January poll conducted by St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball coaches has selected Eureka College to finish fifth in the league in 2018, according to an announcement from the league office on Monday. Defending SLIAC Tournament champion Greenville edged reigning regular-season champion Westminster as the conference's preseason favorite.

Greenville received four first-place votes for 76 points, one better than Westminster's point total of 75. The Blue Jays collected five-first place votes. Webster was picked third, followed by Spalding in the fourth position.

Fontbonne followed Eureka in the sixth slot. Iowa Wesleyan, Blackburn, Principia and MacMurray secured the bottom four slots in the poll. The top four teams in the final SLIAC regular-season standings will qualify for the double-elimination SLIAC Tournament scheduled to begin May 3 at ABC Park in St. Ann, Mo.

The Red Devils return six starters and both pitchers from last season's 21-win team, including three All-SLIAC First Team selections. Shortstop Kerrigan Dura (Edwards, Ill./Brimfield H.S.), pitcher and second baseman Kali George (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) and center fielder Krysten Wallace (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone H.S.) headline the group of returners that helped Eureka rank 21st nationally with 6.6 runs scored per game last season.

Eureka is tentatively scheduled to begin the season on Sunday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m. CST against SUNY Poly, part of the Red Devils' annual eight-game trip to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The home opener is set for Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. against Rose-Hulman and the SLIAC schedule will begin on Wednesday, March 21 in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Blackburn.

EC is scheduled to play 14 home games in 2018, including eight in a row to close the season.