CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The preseason softball polls were released from the Big South on Wednesday for the 2023 season, and the Bucs were picked to finish fifth in the conference with 28 weighted points in the voting system. USC Upstate was picked to win the Big South this season.
The Bucs look to build off of a 27-28 (12-13 in conference) season in which they finished with the most wins since 2014 before falling to No. 4 seed Presbyterian in the Big South Tournament a year ago. Head Coach
Christi Musser returns for her third season looking to continue to make strides in 2023. Last year's squad finished with 16 more wins than in 2021, where they won 11 games in Musser's first year.
The 2023 squad returns nine players from 2022, including Grad.
Raleigh Lewis, who hit .333 with seven home runs and 41 RBI in 46 games. RHP
Annah Junge also returns to this year's team. She owns a career 2.84 ERA in 65 career appearances over her first three years as a Buccaneer.
The Bucs open the 2023 season at home as they host the CSU Kickoff Tournament February 10
th-12
th.
2023 BIG SOUTH SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Rk Team (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points
1. USC Upstate (3) 3 1 4 - - - - - 55
2. Presbyterian College (2) 2 3 1 1 1 - - - 52
3. Campbell (2) 2 2 - 2 2 - - - 48
4. Longwood (1) 1 - 3 3 1 - - - 45
5. Charleston Southern - - - 1 4 2 - 1 28
6. Winthrop - 1 - 1 - 2 4 - 26
7. Radford - 1 - - - 3 1 3 21
8. Gardner-Webb - - - - - 1 3 4 13
