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GLIAC -- The Saginaw Valley State University Softball team has been picked to finish in third place in the 2019 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Softball Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Cardinals garnered 46 total points, finishing 10 behind Davenport University, which had one first-place vote. Grand Valley State University was tabbed as the league's favorite with 64 points and the other nine first-place nods.
2019 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll Results
2019 Saginaw Valley State Preview
The SVSU Softball team looks to keep the momentum rolling after two straight seasons that resulted in appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Seventh-year head coach Todd Buckingham will rely on much youth in 2019, as the Cardinals look to replace seven starters and much firepower from last year's squad. Buckingham has posted an overall record of 173-112 in his six seasons at the helm.
Aubree Mouthaan and Becky Corbett return as starting position players for their senior seasons. Mouthaan popped 10 home runs for the Cardinals in 2018, adding eight doubles and 28 RBI while holding down the shortstop position. Corbett had a pair of home runs and six doubles, adding a team-best 19 stolen bases, 18 walks and 16 RBI from the third base slot. Junior Mikayla Alexandrou returns to anchor the pitching staff after tossing 116.2 innings last year, going 9-10 with a team-high 72 strikeouts and a 4.02 ERA. Kasey Bagelmann, Elayne Youngand Hannah Atwell will add depth to the staff as well for SVSU.
Saginaw Valley gets its 2019 season underway Feb. 22-24 at the annual Midwest Regional Crossover Tournament, hosted by Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana. GLIAC play begins Mar. 20 versus Grand Valley State.