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Softball tabbed eighth in preseason SAC poll; four named to preseason All-SAC teams
Posted: Jan 22, 2025

Softball tabbed eighth in preseason SAC poll; four named to preseason All-SAC teams

Rock Hill, S.C. —- The Catawba College softball team was picked to finish eighth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference coaches' poll, the league office announced Wednesday morning. Additionally, four Catawba Indians were named to the league's preseason all-conference teams.

Wingate was the league favorite with Lenoir-Rhyne not far behind in second, both receiving six first-place votes. Anderson was picked third, ahead of Carson-Newman, who received the last first-place vote in fourth position. Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum and Newberry were the other teams picked ahead of Catawba at eighth. Limestone, Emory & Henry, Coker, UVA Wise and Mars Hill rounded out the rest of the poll.

Brianna Gallagher was a preseason first team selection after earning All-SAC First Team honors after her sophomore season, hitting a team-best .385 with nine doubles, five homers and a team-best 26 walks in addition to the first NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove Award in right field.

Kary Hales also was tabbed to the preseason first team at first base after a First Team All-SAC season in 2024 that saw Hales break out with a career year with a .378 batting average, 13 doubles, nine homers and 53 runs driven in.

Brianna Herring was the league's preseason first team utility/pitcher, looking to build off a solid first season in Salisbury where she played in the outfield and saw action in the circle. Herring hit .324 with eight doubles and six homers while tossing 89 innings of work in the circle.

Alex Baquie was Catawba's final preseason all-conference pick, looking to return to her All-Conference form as a freshman in 2023 after an injury-plagued sophomore season. In limited action, Baquie produced, recording a 3.91 ERA with 51 strikeouts to 28 walks and six victories in 17 appearances.

Under the direction of Interim Head Coach Allie Lyerly, Catawba Softball heads to Spartanburg, S.C. for their season-opening games against Glenville State and Lynn in the Valkyrie Classic hosted by Converse University.