Eureka Softball Selected Sixth in SLIAC Preseason Poll

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka softball team has been selected to finish sixth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll.

The poll, which is voted on by league coaches and was released to the public on Wednesday, featured Spalding at the top of the league with 36 points and three of the seven first-place votes. The Golden Eagles were one of five teams to garner a first-place vote.

Greenville (34), Webster (32) and Fontbonne (31) followed closely behind and each received one first-place vote, as did Westminster (24). Blackburn rounded out the poll with 12 points.

Eureka is coming off a 14-24 season (9-11 SLIAC) in the Red Devils' first year under head coach Juell Hodges.

This spring, the maroon and gold welcome back seven starters from last year's team: senior utility player Christine Mepham (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais), junior first baseman Bria Wessel (Peoria, Ill./Limestone), junior outfielder Elly Maier (Clinton, Ill./Clinton and junior infielder Tressa Grisham (Morton, Ill./East Peoria), and sophomores Bri Tanksley (Spring Bay, Ill./Metamora), Mackenzie Daniels (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) and Delaney Douglas (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland). They'll be joined by 22 exciting program newcomers.

The Red Devils will officially open the 2023 softball season with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at St. Thomas (Texas). Eureka will host Knox in a non-conference doubleheader at Sweitzer Field on Wednesday, March 29.

2023 Preseason SLIAC Softball Coaches Poll (First-place votes)

1. Spalding - 36 (3)

2. Greenville - 34 (1)

3. Webster - 32 (1)

4. Fontbonne - 31 (1)

5. Westminster - 24 (1)

6. Eureka - 20

7. Blackburn - 12