Northwestern tabbed by coaches to top UMAC softball in 2019

Northwestern tabbed by coaches to top UMAC softball in 2019

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ST. PAUL, Minn.---In the first 10 years as a NCAA Division III member conference, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) saw one team dominate the softball regular season with the College of St. Scholastica winning the title in each year of the decade. However, the UMAC softball coaches predict that will change in 2019 as the University of Northwestern was tabbed as the top team in the UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Wednesday.  
 
The 2018 UMAC tournament champion Eagles topped the poll with 62 points and six first-place votes, while the Saints were runner-up with 58 points and two first-place votes. Bethany Lutheran College is also expected to be in the mix after finishing third with 48 points and one first-place vote. 

| Poll | Team Previews | 2019 Schedule |

Last year, a young Northwestern squad prevailed in the regular season finishing third before surged at the end to three impressive wins and outscoring opponents 34-7 in the UMAC postseason tournament to earn the program's first bid to the NCAA tournament. The Eagles fully reload with a strong group of sophomore players who return following outstanding rookie seasons as well as some strong veteran upperclass leaders.

All-UMAC First Team pick Mindy Forceir returns to lead the powerful Eagle offense for her senior season along with fellow First Team sophomore pitcher Lexi Kopacek who was a top pitcher in conference play as a rookie. Sophomores Kayla Hannasch and Kayla Madison also return after earning Honorable Mention as first-year players. Forceir ranked in the top 10 in the UMAC in nearly every offensive category and was the top threat on the bases with 10 stolen in conference play.

The Saints also bring back a strong group of players from their championship team a year ago who should help them attempt to defend their title. Two-time All-UMAC utility player Maggie Schley returns for her final season to lead St. Scholastica on the mound and at the plate. Fellow former UMAC Rookie of the Year and 2018 Honorable Mention Toni Bishop is also healthy this season to anchor the Saints behind the plate as catcher. 

Bethany Lutheran won two UMAC tournament games last year and continue to surge up the conference standings thanks to young players that have stepped up. The Vikings will challenge the Eagles and Saints with the return of Rookie of the Year and All-UMAC First Team pick Sarah Presler. Fellow sophomore Honorable Mention Eden Ambrose should also help the Vikings to another tournament appearance and potentially a conference title. 
 
The University of Wisconsin-Superior was picked fourth and five points behind Bethany Lutheran with 43. The Yellowjackets will look to make a fourth-straight UMAC playoff appearance since joining the league in 2016 and finishing second a year ago. All-UMAC First Team infielders Gabby Gidley and Alayna Tulip will look to guide the Yellowjackets under new coach Nick Bursik. 

Crown College finished tied for fourth last season and will look to make the postseason despite needing to replace a lot of talent. The Storm finished fifth in the Preseason Poll with 37 points and will be led by returning sophomore pitcher Olivia Christopherson. Martin Luther College made a late season surge winning six of it's final seven games to finish sixth. The Knights were picked sixth with 29 points and will hope to challenge for a playoff spot behind All-UMAC senior Audrey Timm. 
 
The University of Minnesota Morris took seventh in the poll with 24 points. The Cougars will rely heavily on Honorable Mention upper class players Megan Knickerbocker and Becca Holland to help the team improve. North Central University and Northland College finished eighth (12) and ninth (11), respectively, and will seek steady improvement under new head coaches. 
 
Two teams kick off the 2019 season Saturday, Feb. 16 while the remainder of UMAC squads begin the following weekend. UMAC play is slated to begin Saturday, March 30 and regular season play wraps up Saturday, April 27. The UMAC postseason tournament will take place May 2-4 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
 

2019 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Northwestern - 62 points (6 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 58 points (2 First Place Votes)
3. Bethany Lutheran - 48 points (1 First Place Vote)
4. Wisconsin-Superior - 43 points
5. Crown - 37 points
6. Martin Luther - 29 points
7. Minnesota Morris - 24 points
8. North Central - 12 points
9. Northland - 11 points
 

Team Previews

| BLC | CC | CSS | MLC | NC | NCU | UMM | UNW | UWS |

Bethany Lutheran College
Dan Nessler | 3rd season |
 
2018 Season
10-6 UMAC, 17-19 | T-4th |
Postseason: 2-2 in the UMAC tournament last year.
 
Top Returners
  • Sarah Presler, So., IF | First Team All-UMAC & Rookie of the Year | 0.442 average, 23 hits, 15 runs |
  • Eden Ambrose, So., OF | UMAC Honorable Mention | 0.405 average, 14 RBIs, 17 hits |
  • Taylor Kottke, So., IF | 0.400 average, 18 hits, 9 RBIs |
 

The College of St. Scholastica
Rilee Dawson | 4th Season |
 
2018 Season
14-2, 22-13 | 1st |
Postseason: Lost to Northwestern in the UMAC Tournament championship
 
Top Returners
  • Maggie Schley, Sr., P/IF | 2018, 2016 All-UMAC; 2016 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 2018, 2016 Second Team NFCA All-Midwest Region | 17 2B, 4 HR, 39 RBIs |
  • Toni Bishop, Jr., C | 2018, 2017 Honorable Mention All-UMAC; 2017 UMAC Rookie of the Year | Missed half of the season due to injury, 437 on-base pct., 12 RBIs |
  • Hannah Thul, So., IF | Team’s Rookie of the Year in 2018 | Started all 35 games, 27 runs, 15 RBIs |
 
Need to Know
The Saints played 16 home games last season, the most in program history.
 

Crown College
Jamie Ross | 8th Season |
 
2018 Season
10-6 UMAC, 18-20 | T-4th |
Postseason: Bested BLC and lost to CSS on Day 1 of the UMAC Tournament, lost to BLC on Day 2.
 
Top Returners
  • Olivia Christopherson, So., P/OF | 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | 8 Wins, 97.2 IP, 61 Ks |
  • Olivia Dols, Jr., 2B | .342 avg., .427 Slugging %, 26 RBIs |
  • Lottie Ellis,  So., MI | .280 avg., 20 RBIs, 20 Runs |
 

Martin Luther College
Matt Pearson | 5th Season |
 
2018 Season
8-8 UMAC, 11-17 overall | 6th |
 
Top Returners
  • Audrey Timm, Sr., OF | 2018 1st TM All-UMAC | 2018 Stats: .396 BA, 4 HR, 22 RBI |
  • Kayla Rosenbaum, Sr., 3B | 2017, 18 HM All-UMAC | 2018 Stats: .376 BA, 19 RBI, 20 R |
  • Morgan Palubicki, Jr., P | 2018 Stats: 5-8 record, 4.57 ERA, 95.0 IP |
 
Need to Know
MLC won six of its last seven UMAC games to close the 2018 season.
 

North Central University
Joseph Waalk | 1st Season |
 
2018 Season
1-15 UMAC, 7-25 Overall | T-8th |
 
Top Returners
  • Emily Loop, So., C | .266 BA, .310 OB% |
  • Stephanie Caravalho, Sr., IF | .350 OB%, |
  • Emma Bushey, So., P | Pitcher of the Week | 74 Strikeouts (3rd in UMAC), 109.1 innings pitched (4th in UMAC) |
  • Ali Cornelius, So., P | 3 HR’s (Tied for 3rd in UMAC), Lead NCU in BB (3rd UMAC), 45 Strikeouts (7th in UMAC) |
 
Need to Know
Return both starting pitchers and starting catcher from last season.
 

Northland College
Tiffany Hudack | 1st Season |
 
2018 Season
1-15 UMAC, 2-29 | T-8th |
 
Top Returners
  • Kylie Wickiser, Jr., INF| .362 batting average, 34 hits, .944 OPS|
  • Cheyenne Otto, Sr., INF| .523 OPS, 88 AB |
  • Zhayla Reyes, Sr., INF|.306 OB%, .548 OPS |
 

University of Minnesota-Morris
Heather Pennie-Roy | 21st Season |
 
2018 Season
5-11 UMAC, 11-29 Overall | 7th Place
 
Top Returners
  • Becca Holland, Jr., OF | 2018 UMAC Honorable Mention | Academic All UMAC | Top 20 UMAC Batting Average (.381 UMAC), T-8 UMAC Stolen Bases (5) , .960 Fielding Percentage
  • Megan Knickerbocker, Sr., OF | 2018 UMAC Honorable Mention | T-2 UMAC HR (3), T-10 UMAC Hits (20), T-9 UMAC RBI (13)
  • Lacey Sullivan, Sr., 1B | Academic All UMAC| T-10 UMAC Hits (13), Top 20 UMAC Fielding Percentage (.981), .377 UMAC Batting Average
 
Need to Know
The Cougars will rely on a heavy mix of their 12 returners paired with their 9 first year players to push to return to the UMAC Tournament in 2019.
 

University of Northwestern
Alicia Du’Monceaux | 11th season |
 
2018 Season
11-5 UMAC, 25-16 Overall | 3rd |
Postseason: UMAC Tournament Champions, First-ever NCAA Regional Tournament appearance – lost in an elimination game to No. 23 Central College
 
Top Returners
  • Mindy Forcier, Sr., OF | First Team All-UMAC twice, UMAC All-Defensive Team twice | NCCAA All-North Central Region Team, NFCA Third Team All-Midwest Region | .394 AVG, .978 FLD%, 20 SB |
  • Kayla Madison, So., IF | Second Team All-UMAC | .340 AVG, .916 FLD%, 39 RBI |
  • Lexi Kopacek, So., P | First Team All-UMAC | 3.14 ERA, 131.2 IP, 34 SO |
 
Need to Know
Only graduated one senior from last year’s NCAA Tournament team.
 

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Nick Bursik | 1st Season|

2018 Season
12-4 UMAC, 18-18 Overall | 2nd |
Postseason: Lost to No. 3 Northwestern, 17-3, and to No. 5 Bethany Lutheran, 6-5, May 3.
 
Top Returners
  • Gabby Gidley, Sr., C/INF | All-UMAC First Team, UMAC All-Defensive Team | .302 batting average, 20 RBIs, led UMAC in sacrifice flies with four (19th in NCAA) |
  • Alayna Tulip, So., INF/C | All-UMAC First Team | .370 batting average, lead team with 40 hits, had 10 doubles and 16 RBIs |
  • Damara Theis, Jr., RHP  | 7-8 record with a 5.71 ERA in 90.2 innings pitched, 26 strikeouts |