SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2024 Southern Conference softball crown, as voted on by all eight of the league’s coaches. Furman infielder Kiley Perry was voted preseason player of the year, while Mercer sophomore Grace Taylor was named the preseason pitcher of the year.
 
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting. The first team features an additional pitcher due to a tie in the voting.
 
UNCG collected four first-place votes and 46 points to take the top spot in the poll after winning the SoCon regular-season and tournament titles a season ago. The Spartans, who went 37-22 overall and 13-4 during conference play in 2023, placed five on the preseason all-conference teams. Pitcher Maddie Spell, who was the 2023 SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player, infielder Brooklynn Maxwell and designated player Jorde Chartrand represented the Spartans on the first team. Spell was in the top 5 in the conference in wins (12), innings pitched (128.1) and ERA (2.95) in 2023. Maxwell led the league in assists (139) and was second in runs scored (47) last season. Chartrand was 10th in batting average (.331) and led the SoCon in saves (4) inside the circle. Pitcher Rhyann Jones and outfielder Grace Loftin were both second-team selections for UNCG.
 
Samford had three first-place votes and a total of 43 points to claim second in the poll. The Bulldogs finished the 2023 season with a 26-31 overall record and a 12-6 leger in conference games. The Bulldogs had the most selections on the preseason all-conference first team, placing four on the squad. Junior pitcher McKenzie Newcomb made the preseason all-conference first team after leading the league in wins (14) and ERA (2.20) in 2023. Catcher Logan Champion, infielder Sarah Squillace and McKayla Cothran join Newcomb on the first team for the Bulldogs. Last season, Champion led the SoCon in at-bats (188) and she threw out the most runners in the conference (20), Squillace was third in on-base percentage (.450) and Cothran finished in the top 10 of the SoCon in sacrifice bunts and stolen bases.
 
Mercer finished third in the poll with 34 points and received the final first-place vote. Taylor was the lone Bear to be named to the preseason all-conference teams. Taylor appeared in the most games inside the circle of any SoCon player in 2023 (45), finishing with 13 wins in 190.2 innings of work.


Chattanooga received 28 points in the preseason poll to finish fourth. The Mocs, who were 25-27 overall and 7-11 in SoCon play last season, placed outfielder Addy Keylon, who was second on the squad in batting average (.291) and slugging percentage (.556), on the first team. Pitcher Peja Goold, catcher Jayce Purdy, infielder Kaili Phillips and outfielder Olivia Lipari all made the second team for Chattanooga.
 
Furman was fifth in the preseason poll with 26 points after going 8-9 in league play and 20-32 overall in 2023. Perry, the reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year, was joined on first team by outfielder Ashlee Lykins. Perry led the SoCon in home runs (16), RBIs (44) and total bases (114) a season ago, while Lykins finished in the top 10 in stolen bases and runs scored. Paladins’ infielder Alex Rose Molinar, outfielder Caitlin Goldwait and designated player Sylvia Burroughs each earned a second team nod.
 
Infielder Natalie Henry earned a preseason second-team all-conference selection for Western Carolina, which amassed 23 points to finish at sixth. The Catamounts went 21-26 overall and 8-10 in conference games last season.
 
ETSU checks in at seventh with 17 points. The Buccaneers were 17-37 in 2023, going 6-12 in the league. Infielder Cameron Young rounded out the first team selections as she led the conference in doubles (19) a season ago. Infielder Riley Nayadley made the second team.
 
Wofford had seven points to finish eighth in the preseason poll. The Terriers will play their first season of softball in school history in 2024.


The 2024 softball season begins on Feb. 8 with Wofford hosting Eastern Kentucky and Chattanooga taking on Louisiana. Each of the other six teams will open their season on the following day.
 
Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. UNCG (4)	46
2. Samford (3)	43
3. Mercer (1)	34
4. Chattanooga	28
5. Furman	26
6. Western Carolina	23
7. ETSU	17
8. Wofford	7

Preseason Player of the Year
Kiley Perry, Furman, 1B/P, So.
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Grace Taylor, Mercer, So.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Grace Taylor, Mercer, So.
P          Maddie Spell, UNCG, R-Jr.
P          McKenzie Newcomb, Samford, Jr.
C          Logan Champion, Samford, Jr.
IF         Cameron Young, ETSU, Jr.
IF         Kiley Perry, Furman, So.
IF         Brooklynn Maxwell, UNCG, Sr.
IF         Sarah Squillace, Samford, Jr.
OF       Ashlee Lykins, Furman, Sr.
OF       McKayla Cothran, Samford, Jr.
OF       Addy Keylon, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP       Jorde Chartrand, UNCG, Jr.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Rhyann Jones, UNCG, So.
P          Peja Goold, Chattanooga, So.
C          Jayce Purdy, Chattanooga, Jr.
IF         Riley Nayadley, ETSU, Jr.
IF         Alex Rose Molinar, Furman, Sr.
IF         Kaili Phillips, Chattanooga, R-Sr.
IF         Natalie Henry, Western Carolina, Jr.
OF       Caitlin Goldwait, Furman, Jr.
OF       Grace Loftin, UNCG, Jr.
OF       Olivia Lipari, Chattanooga, Jr.
DP       Sylvia Burroughs, Furman, So.