NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State softball team was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches' poll, the league office announced Wednesday (Jan. 29). Senior infielders Hailey MacKay and Tara Oltmann were also honored with Preseason All-Sun Belt Team recognition.

Oltman was selected to the 2019 Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference squad and ranked fourth in the league in RBIs (41) and seventh in doubles (11). During conference-only games she was fourth in RBIs (22) and sixth in doubles (7) and was the ninth toughest to strikeout in the league (16.8 K avg.). Oltmann stole 16 bases, which ranked eighth in the conference.

MacKay earned a preseason all-conference nod for the second year in a row. In 2018 she was named Third Team All-NFCA Central Region and First Team All-Sun Belt Conference. Last year MacKay started all 54 games at third base and was second on the team in batting average (.288) and ranked 13th in the Sun Belt with 26 walks.
 
2020 SUN BELT CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL & HONORS
Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
 
1. Louisiana (10) – 100 points
2. Troy - 85
3. UTA - 77
4. Texas State - 74
5. Coastal Carolina - 56
6. Appalachian State - 47
7. Georgia Southern - 36
8. South Alabama - 31
9. ULM - 26
10. Georgia State – 18
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Sr., P, Lafayette, La.)
Megan Kleist, Louisiana (Sr., P, Appleton, Wisc.)
Julie Rawls, Louisiana (Sr., C, Hallsville, Texas)
Reagan Wright, UTA (Sr., C, Mansfield, Texas)
Katie Webb, Troy (Sr., 1B, Salem, Ala.)
Kaitlyn Alderink, Louisiana (Sr., 2B, Keller, Texas)
Hailey Mackay, Texas State (Sr., 3B, Leander, Texas)
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Sr., SS, Cypress, Texas)
Jayden Mount, ULM (Sr., SS, Longview, Texas)
Whitney Walton, UTA (Sr., SS, Lake Jackson, Texas)
Tara Oltmann, Texas State (Jr., SS, Giddings, Texas)
Courtney Dean, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OF, Indian Trail, N.C.)
Mekhia Freeman, Georgia Southern (Sr., OF, Newnan, Ga.)
Sarah Hudek, Louisiana (Sr., OF, Sugar Land, Texas)
Raina O'Neal, Louisiana (Jr., OF, Richmond, Texas)
Bailey Curry, Louisiana (Jr., DP/1B, Frankfort, Ky.)
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Alissa Dalton, Louisiana (Sr., SS, Cypress, Texas)
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana (Sr., P, Lafayette, La.)

Texas State begins its 2020 campaign on Feb. 7 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. The Bobcats will play five game that weekend against South Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville, Auburn and an exhibition against the USA National Team.