RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – With the start of the 2025 softball season just over two weeks away, the Great American Conference released its annual preseason coaches poll for softball on Tuesday. In that release, the Arkansas Tech softball team was picked to finish the year sixth among the 12-team league.
Predicted to finish first with nine of the 12 first-place votes is Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm are coming off a season in which they won the GAC Tournament and made it to the championship game of the Claremore Regional. Tabbed second in the poll was Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders totaled 102 points and garnered one of the other three first-place votes that did not go to SNU.
Just a couple points back of SAU was Harding. The Bisons also received a first-place vote and totaled 100 points. Last year's regular season champion, Oklahoma Baptist garnered the final first-place vote to boost their total to 95, ranking them fourth.
Picked just ahead of the Golden Suns, who totaled 72 points, was Southeastern Oklahoma with 83 points. Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson State were next in slots seven and eight with 58 and 43 points, respectively. Southwestern Oklahoma was picked just outside the reach of conference tournament range with 41 points to place ninth.
East Central, Ouachita Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma rounded out the preseason poll.
For the Golden Suns, they are gearing up to take the field at the Branson Leadoff Classic January 31 – February 2 and will do so under third-year head coach
Jordon Jones. At that season-opening classic, the Golden Suns will take on a variety of opponents including: Drury, Southwest Baptist, Minnesota-Crookston, Missouri Southern, Emporia State and Upper Iowa.
Returning for the Golden Suns are three of their primary starting pitchers in
Bradi Basler,
Aidan Dayberry and
Alexis Findley. Offensively, the Golden Suns also return their top hitter in terms of average, slugging percentage, doubles and home runs in
Maycie Hardy.
New to the program to compliment and bolster the roster that has 16 returners are 12 newcomers. All but two of those newcomers are from the prep ranks.
