Photo by: Don Rogers, Ball State University
Softball Picked as MAC Regular Season and Tournament Favorite
February 06, 2019 | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - The Ball State softball program has been selected as the favorite to win both the 2019 Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships as voted on by the league's head coaches in the annual preseason poll.
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With the MAC eliminating the divisional format for the 2019 softball season, the Cardinals garnered 105 points and six of the 10 first-place votes to win the regular season title. Kent State was second with 93 points and two first-place votes, followed by defending regular season and tournament champion Ohio at 80 points and one first-place vote.
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The Cardinals also picked up seven of the 10 first-place votes to win the MAC Tournament, with Kent State, Ohio and Bowling Green each receiving one.
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Led by fourth-year head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett, the Ball State softball program returns nearly all its key components from last season's team which finished the year with a 37-19 overall record and won the MAC West Division Championship with a 16-7 league mark.
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Highlighting Ball State's key returners are 2018 First Team All-MAC selections Aeshia Miles and Haley Dominique. Miles enters the season's as the league's top returning starting pitcher with her 20 wins, 2.00 ERA and 189.0 innings of work last season. Dominique is one of the MAC's top returning hitters, finishing last season ranked sixth in the league with a .378 batting average and fourth in both runs scored (43) and on base percentage (.474).
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The Ball State softball program opens its 45th season of play Friday, when it battles LIU Brooklyn (10 a.m.) and Penn State (2:30 p.m.) at the FGCU Kickoff Classic. The Cardinals will play the Nittany Lions for a second time Saturday (4:45 p.m.), while battling tournament host FGCU in a Saturday nightcap (7 p.m.) and a Sunday matinee (1:30 p.m.).
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
2019 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Ball State – 105 (6)
2. Kent State - 93Â (2)
3. Ohio - 80 (1)
4. Western Michigan - 69Â
5. Northern Illinois - 66
6. Miami - 65
7. Central Michigan - 62Â
8. Bowling Green – 43 (1)
9. Toledo – 42Â
10. Akron - 18
11. Buffalo - 17
2019 MAC Tournament Champion: Ball State (7)
Also receiving votes: Kent State (1), Ohio (1), Bowling Green (1)Â
(First Place Votes)
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With the MAC eliminating the divisional format for the 2019 softball season, the Cardinals garnered 105 points and six of the 10 first-place votes to win the regular season title. Kent State was second with 93 points and two first-place votes, followed by defending regular season and tournament champion Ohio at 80 points and one first-place vote.
Â
The Cardinals also picked up seven of the 10 first-place votes to win the MAC Tournament, with Kent State, Ohio and Bowling Green each receiving one.
Â
Led by fourth-year head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett, the Ball State softball program returns nearly all its key components from last season's team which finished the year with a 37-19 overall record and won the MAC West Division Championship with a 16-7 league mark.
Â
Highlighting Ball State's key returners are 2018 First Team All-MAC selections Aeshia Miles and Haley Dominique. Miles enters the season's as the league's top returning starting pitcher with her 20 wins, 2.00 ERA and 189.0 innings of work last season. Dominique is one of the MAC's top returning hitters, finishing last season ranked sixth in the league with a .378 batting average and fourth in both runs scored (43) and on base percentage (.474).
Â
The Ball State softball program opens its 45th season of play Friday, when it battles LIU Brooklyn (10 a.m.) and Penn State (2:30 p.m.) at the FGCU Kickoff Classic. The Cardinals will play the Nittany Lions for a second time Saturday (4:45 p.m.), while battling tournament host FGCU in a Saturday nightcap (7 p.m.) and a Sunday matinee (1:30 p.m.).
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
2019 MAC Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Ball State – 105 (6)
2. Kent State - 93Â (2)
3. Ohio - 80 (1)
4. Western Michigan - 69Â
5. Northern Illinois - 66
6. Miami - 65
7. Central Michigan - 62Â
8. Bowling Green – 43 (1)
9. Toledo – 42Â
10. Akron - 18
11. Buffalo - 17
2019 MAC Tournament Champion: Ball State (7)
Also receiving votes: Kent State (1), Ohio (1), Bowling Green (1)Â
(First Place Votes)
Players Mentioned
OF
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