The Muskingum University softball team was picked first in the OAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll that was announced on Tuesday. The Muskies received a total of 75 points in the poll, which included five first place votes.

Last season, the Muskies finished 31-11 overall with a 15-3 slate in the OAC. The Muskies won the OAC Regular-Season Championship for the first time since 2014 and the 20th time overall (the OAC began recognizing regular-season titles in 1995). The Muskies also secured the top seed in the OAC Tournament for the 16th time in school history and hosted the conference tournament. Muskingum's stellar play was recognized on the national level by receiving votes in the NFCA Top 25 Poll for seven weeks, including being ranked as high as 25th.

The Muskies will return 13 letterwinners. which includes four-of-six All-OAC honorees and the OAC Rookie of the Year, sophomore Hayley Hawk. Hawk was also coined First Team-All OAC and NFCA Division III First Team All-Central Region. Muskingum also returns junior Jaelyn Meade, junior Karsyn Shaffer, and freshman Hannah Smith who were named Second Team All-OAC.

Hawk led the conference with 42 RBIs off of 56 hits. Hawk was also ranked third in the OAC batting .438, with 12 doubles, and ranked fourth in the conference with six home runs.

Meade finished the year ranked second in the conference in home runs (10) and RBIs (40). She tallied a career-best 47 hits, belted six doubles, and registered five triples en route to a .362 batting average.

Shaffer ended the season ranked third on the team batting .370 with 47 hits, five doubles, and 23 RBIs. She also finished third in the league with 14 stolen bases.

Smith led the team in wins going 13-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 89 innings of work for the Muskies. Smith was also honrored for her play by being named OAC Softball Pitcher of the Week.

Also, adding to the depth of the team for the Muskies are juniors Riley Powers, Bailey Waitkus, and Hannah Duff. Powers led the Muskies last year with 24 runs on 43 hits, ending the season with eight doubles, 30 RBIs, and a .333 batting average. Waitkus finished the year with 26 hits, three doubles, three home runs, and 19 RBIs. Duff secured a team-best ERA of 2.53, pitching a total of 77 innings for the Muskies. She locked in seven wins and recorded one save. 

The Muskies will kick off their spring campaign at THE Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. Muskingum opens the season on Sunday, March 1, against York and Wartburg.