Softball 2/4/2026 10:00:04 AM 2026 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll and Season Preview ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 Softball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday with Bethany Lutheran being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team. Complete poll Place School Points 1 Bethany Lutheran (5) 35 2 UW-Superior (2) 32 3 Northwestern 26 4 Minnesota Morris 19 5 Crown 18 6 North Central 9 7 Martin Luther 8 #1 Bethany Lutheran: 35 points The Vikings received 35 points for the top spot in the poll and five first-place votes from their conference competitors. Bethany Lutheran won the UMAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season. Head Coach: Angela Dabu | 2nd season | Top Returners Emily Meyer, Jr., Pitcher | UMAC Pitcher of the Year, First-team All-Conference | NFCA Second Team All-Region IX | 2.19 ERA, 23-12 record, 230 Ks, 217.1 IP Emily Doyle, Sr., Infield | First-team All-Conference | NFCA Third Team All-Region IX | .383 avg., 14 doubles, 7 HR, 35 RBI Bryn Weidner, Jr., Outfield |First-team All-Conference |.364 avg., 55 hits, 24-27 SB #2 UW-Superior: 32 points The Yellowjackets earned 32 points and the remaining two first-place votes to rank second in the poll. Melissa Fracker | 6th Season | Top Returners Peyton Bennett, So., OF | UMAC ROY | NFCA All-Region Third Team | .421 AVG, 6 3B’s, 28 SB’s | Abby Mitchell, So., RHP | UMAC Honorable Mention| NFCA All-America Scholar | 2.24 ERA, 65.2 IP, 64 SO | Carly Stuckmayer, Jr., UTL | First-team All-Conference | NFCA All-America Scholar | .433 AVG, 52 H, 21 SB’s | #3 Northwestern: 26 points The Eagles earned 26 points to rank third. Head Coach: Alicia du’Monceaux |18th season | Top Returners Lani Schoper, Sr., SS | UMAC All-Defensive Team | NCCAA All-Region | 56 Hits, 33 RBI, 1.007 OPS| Ireland Strubbe, Sr., P | Two-time UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | NCCAA All-Region | 2.39 ERA, 102 Strikeouts, 120 Innings Pitched | #4 Minnesota Morris: 19 points The Cougars received 19 points to be tabbed fourth. Head coach: Heather Pennie-Roy | 28th season | Top Returners Alyssa Thornton, Jr, P/IF | First-team All-Conference | led UMM in batting average in 2025 (.409) Olivia Lossee, Sr, OF | UMAC All-Defensive Team #5 Crown: 18 points The Polars earned 18 points to be ranked fifth. Head coach: Taylor Jones | 2nd season | Top Returners Maria Lilienthal, Senior, 1B | three-time First-team All-Conference | POY 2023, NCCAA Second-team All-American in 2023 and 2025 | .447 BA w/ .523 OB%, 19 extra base hits, 32 RBI | Emmy Romportl, Senior, Pitcher/UTIL | 2024 and 2025 UMAC Honorable Mention | NCCAA Regional Pitcher of the Year| .419 BA, 37 RBI, 41 Runs scored, struck out 84 batters | Katie Vaughan, Junior, C/3B | 2024 UMAC Honorable Mention | .376 BA, 12 extra base hits, 46 runs scored | #6 North Central: 9 points The Rams received nine points for the sixth spot in the poll. Head coach: Madi Hecox |1st season | Top Returners Kaitlyn Havens, SO, C/2B | .267 Batting Avg, .875 FLD% Erica Gilles, SR, P/1B | .265 Batting Avg, .966 FLD% #7 Martin Luther: 8 points The Knights rounded out the poll with eight points. Head coach: Becca Kvam | 4th season | Top Returners Chloe Berg, Junior, 1B, C| 2025 UMAC Honorable Mention | led MLC in batting average in 2025 (.392), runs (14), and hits (31) Chloe Koschnitzke, Sophomore, C |3rd on MLC in hits (19), .940 fielding percentage in 2025