BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The 2017 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll was released Wednesday afternoon, and the league’s coaches have predicted the LSU softball team to finish in a tie for third place the conference announced.
The Tigers, coming off of a 52-18 overall record and 13-11 SEC mark in 2016, returns 15 letterwinners to the fold in 2017, making it to the SEC Tournament final last year and qualifying for the Women’s College World Series for the fifth time in program history and second-straight season last year.
Florida, the two-time defending SEC regular-season champion, has been selected as the preseason favorite for the 2017 season. Florida received nine first-place votes, with two going to Auburn who was picked to finish second. LSU and Texas A&M received the other two first-place votes.
LSU earned 118 points, tying with the Alabama Crimson Tide for third place.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
LSU opens the 2017 regular season on February 10, hosting the Tiger Classic which features McNeese State, Oklahoma State and Penn State.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball along with @lsusoftball and @BethTorina on Twitter and @lsusb on Instagram.
2017 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place, School, Points
1. Florida (9), 141
2. Auburn (2), 126
t3. LSU (1), 118
t3. Alabama, 118
5. Tennessee, 98
6. Texas A&M (1), 83
7. Georgia, 78
8. Kentucky, 75
9. Missouri, 53
10. Ole Miss, 45
11. South Carolina, 38
12. Mississippi State, 28
13. Arkansas, 13