RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference released the 2025 Preseason Softball Coaches Poll on Tuesday. After finishing as runners-up in the 2024 GAC Tournament, Head Coach Jason Anderson's Muleriders have been voted second in the league's preseason with 102 total points and one first-place vote.
 
Southern Nazarene, the reigning tournament champions, was voted the preseason favorites with 119 points and nine first-place votes. Harding was placed third with 100 points and one first-place vote and Oklahoma Baptist was spotted in fourth with 95 points and one first-place vote.
 
PREVIOUS FIRST-PLACE MEMBERS IN GAC PRESEASON COACHES POLLS

• 2025 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Nazarene
  • 2024 GAC Regular Season Champions – Oklahoma Baptist
  • 2024 GAC Tournament Champions – Southern Nazarene
• 2024 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Oklahoma Baptist
  • 2023 GAC Regular Season Champions – Oklahoma Baptist
  • 2023 GAC Tournament Champions – Southeastern Oklahoma State
• 2023 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2022 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southern Arkansas/Arkansas Tech
  • 2022 GAC Tournament Champions – Arkansas Tech
• 2022 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2021 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southern Arkansas/Arkansas Tech
  • 2021 GAC Tournament Champions – Arkansas Tech
• 2021 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2020 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southern Arkansas
  • 2020 GAC Tournament Champions – N/A
• 2020 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2019 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southern Arkansas
  • 2019 GAC Tournament Champions – Arkansas Tech
• 2019 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2018 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southern Arkansas
  • 2018 GAC Tournament Champions – Arkansas Tech
• 2018 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2017 GAC Regular Season Champions – Harding
  • 2017 GAC Tournament Champions – Harding
• 2017 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southern Arkansas
  • 2016 GAC Regular Season Champions – Arkansas Tech
  • 2016 GAC Tournament Champions – Southern Arkansas
• 2016 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – East Central
  • 2015 GAC Regular Season Champions – Henderson State
  • 2015 GAC Tournament Champions – East Central
• 2015 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southeastern Oklahoma State
  • 2014 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southeastern Oklahoma State
  • 2014 GAC Tournament Champions – Southern Arkansas
• 2014 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Southeastern Oklahoma State
  • 2013 GAC Regular Season Champions – Southeastern Oklahoma State
  • 2013 GAC Tournament Champions – Southeastern Oklahoma State
• 2013 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Arkansas-Monticello
  • 2012 GAC Regular Season Champions – Arkansas-Monticello
  • 2012 GAC Tournament Champions – Arkansas-Monticello
• 2012 GAC Coaches Poll Preseason Favorite – Arkansas-Monticello/Southeastern Okla.

Returning All-Conference Players
Making her return to the circle as the 2024 Newcomer of the Year is the right-handed pitcher Brinson Rogers. The Statesboro, Georgia native claimed the award while also being named to the All-GAC Second Team in her season with the Muleriders. Rogers pitched for 139.1 innings last season and started in 24 contests out of 32 appearances. In her junior campaign, the Peach State native completed ten games and surrendered just 99 hits while also leading the team in strikeouts with 209.
 
Also returning as a Second Team member in the Great American Conference is Regan Dillon. The junior out of Bryant, Arkansas was the team's top batter in 2024 as she produced a hitting average of .359 and started all 53 games. Dillon is the only returner from 2024 who accounted for 30+ runs (33) and led the unit last season in hits (60), home runs (13 | 2^nd GAC), home runs per game (0.25 | 2^nd GAC), on-base percentage (.471 | 3^rd GAC), total bases (116 | 1^st GAC), walks per game (0.64 | 1^st GAC), runs batted in per game (0.92 | 2^nd GAC), RBIs (49 | 3^rd GAC), doubles (15 | 3^rd GAC), doubles per game (0.28 | 3^rd GAC).
 
Beginning the Season
The Muleriders open the season in Youngsville, Louisiana on January 31 against Miles College at the Mardi Gras Invitational. The following week, Southern Arkansas travels to Bentonville, Arkansas for the Alvy Early Memorial Classic (Feb. 7 – 9) followed by the Raisin Canes GAC/MIAA Tournament in Shawnee and Edmond, Oklahoma (Feb. 14 – 16).
 

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?? #theGAC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll votes Mulerider Softball as the second overall team with 102 total points and a first-place vote????#GoMuleriders | #Team27 pic.twitter.com/bubqy7UfTO

— Mulerider Athletics (@MuleriderSports) January 14, 2025