UNCG named favorite to win SoCon softball title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2026 Southern Conference softball crown, as voted on by all eight of the league’s coaches. Samford infielder Olivia Shaw was voted preseason player of the year, while Wofford senior Margaret Axelson was named the preseason pitcher of the year.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting.

 
UNCG collected four first-place votes and 43 points to take the top spot in the poll after finishing second in the regular season and advancing to the conference tournament semifinals in 2025. The Spartans, who went 39-18 overall and 14-6 in SoCon play, claimed six spots on the preseason all-conference teams. Infielder Macy Michael and outfielder Kaylyn Belfield represented UNCG on the first team. Michael, the 2025 SoCon Freshman of the Year, hit .344 during her first collegiate season, while Belfield, who was a first-team all-conference selection last season, finished the 2025 season second in the league in batting average (.431). Pitcher Salem Ward, catcher Betsy Eatmon, infielder Hadley Gardner and outfielder Samantha Beck were second-team selections.

Samford received two first-place votes, while Chattanooga grabbed one as both squads had a total of 37 points to finish tied for second in the poll. The Bulldogs were 12-7 in conference contests and 33-23 overall in 2025. Shaw, who was a first-team all-conference selection at infielder and designated player a season ago, led the league in doubles (22) and was fourth in batting average (.381) last year. Katie Campbell was voted to the preseason all-conference first team at catcher and infielder. Outfielder Joi Hubbard was also named to the preseason all-conference first team for the Bulldogs.  Campbell finished the 2025 season second in the SoCon in RBIs (60), while Hubbard led the league in stolen bases (29).

The Chattanooga Mocs claimed the 2025 regular season crown, finishing 41-15 overall and 15-5 in conference games. Pitcher Taylor Long claimed a spot on the preseason all-conference team. In 2025, Long was second in the SoCon in strikeouts with 160, while tossing nine complete games.

Wofford was fourth in the preseason poll with 32 points. The Terriers had four preseason all-conference selections, led by Axelson’s selection to the first team. Axelson, who has been a first-team all-conference selection in each of the last two seasons, threw 18 complete games with a 1.99 ERA in 2025. Wofford placed pitcher Abby Greenwood, infielder Brianna Stanley and outfielder Rivers Sampson on the preseason second team.

Mercer received 26 points in the preseason poll to finish fifth. The Bears, who won the 2025 SoCon Tournament, were 40-26 overall and 11-9 in league games a season ago. Mercer had one selection on the preseason all-conference team as infielder Grace Jones made the squad.

Infielder Lily Bell and outfielder Sydney Dirks earned first-team all-conference selections for Western Carolina, which amassed 24 points and the final first-place vote. In 2025, Bell batted .455, establishing a new SoCon record for a season. Dirks also made the second team as a designated player, while teammates Maya McPherson and Rylee Butler made the second team as an infielder and outfielder, respectively.

ETSU checks in at seventh with 17 points. Furman rounded out the poll with eight points. The Paladins’ Sylvia Burroughs completed the first-team selections. Burroughs was in the top five in doubles (14) in the league a season ago.

The 2026 softball season begins on Feb. 5, with Samford visiting Florida State. Five teams will open their season the next day. On Feb. 11, Western Carolina opens its season against North Carolina A&T, while ETSU is the last to begins its 2026 campaign on Feb. 13 versus Albany.

Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points

Preseason Player of the Year
Olivia Shaw, Samford, Jr., IF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Margaret Axelson, Wofford, Sr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Taylor Long, Chattanooga

P          Margaret Axelson, Wofford
C          Katie Campbell, Samford
IF         Macy Michael, UNCG

IF         Olivia Shaw, Samford
IF         Katie Campbell, Samford
IF         Lily Bell, Western Carolina
OF       Kaylyn Belfield, UNCG
OF       Joi Hubbard, Samford

OF       Sydney Dirks, Western Carolina
DP       Sylvia Burroughs, Furman
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Salem Ward, UNCG

P          Abby Greenwood, Wofford
C          Betsy Eatmon, UNCG
IF         Grace Jones, Mercer
IF         Hadley Gardner, UNCG
IF         Maya McPherson, Western Carolina

IF         Brianna Stanley, Wofford
OF       Samantha Beck, UNCG
OF       Rylee Butler, Western Carolina

OF       Rivers Sampson, Wofford
DP       Sydney Dirks, Western Carolina