NEW ORLEANS – Texas State softball received multiple conference honors in the 2025 preseason polls, including a first-overall selection in the Coaches Poll. Additionally, sophomore Maddy Azua was named the 2024 Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year while
Ciara Trahan named Preseason All-Sun Belt alongside Azua.
The reigning-conference tournament champion Bobcats were selected first in the preseason coaches' poll with 134 votes, tallying five first-place votes. They narrowly beat out reigning regular season champions Louisiana, who had 131 votes. This is the first time since 2018 that Texas State has been named preseason favorites.
Azua was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, which is her first conference-accolade of her career. Azua is a sophomore out of Round Rock, Texas, who is coming off an impressive freshman campaign. She appeared in 30 games last season with a 2.17 ERA and a 9-5 record. In 96.2 innings of work, she allowed just 30 earned runs while striking out 81 batters, giving up just 18 extra-base hits in the process. She held batters to a .251 average against her and tossed three complete games, including a 12-strikeout debut against UTSA.
Trahan earned her second Preseason All-Sun Belt honor as she enters her senior season. A Santa Fe, Texas native, Trahan returns to the Bobcats after a season-ending injury midway through the 2024 season. Trahan was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2022 and All-Sun Belt in 2023. Prior to her injury in 2024, Trahan was batting .339 with 40 hits, 26 runs, six doubles, two triples and 18 RBI in 118 at-bats. She was also 14-16 on stolen bases.
Texas State finished second in the Sun Belt standings last season after going 18-6 in conference play and 47-15 overall.
This is the fourth year in a row a Bobcat has earned an individual preseason honor from the Sun Belt. This comes after
Jessica Mullins won the 2023 and 2024 Preseason Pitcher of the Year award while
Sara Vanderford won the 2022 Preseason Player of the Year award.
Texas State will begin its 2025 season on Thursday, February 6 hosting #13 Arkansas inside Bobcat Softball Stadium. The game is the first of four games in the Bobcats' opening weekend Texas State Tournament that runs through February 9 at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Tickets, including season and single game, are on sale now at TXST.com/tickets.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Texas State (5) – 134
- Louisiana (6) – 131
- South Alabama – 106
- Troy – 103
- James Madison (1) – 99
- Coastal Carolina – 94
- ULM – 76
- Georgia Southern – 51
- Marshall – 50
- Southern Miss – 44
- App State – 33
- Georgia State – 13
2025 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Brooklyn Ulrich, Marshall (R-Jr., 2B – Mesa, Ariz.)
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Madison Azua, Texas State (So., P – Round Rock, Texas)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Bella Henzler, James Madison (Jr., C – Allison Park, Pa.)
Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina (So., 1B – Mount Gambier, Australia)
Sam Roe, Louisiana (Sr., 1B – Destin, Fla.)
Brooklyn Ulrich, Marshall (R-Jr., 2B – Mesa, Ariz.)
Taylor McKinney, Troy (Sr., 2B – Montgomery, Ala.)
Delaney Keith, Coastal Carolina (Jr., 3B – Nampa, Idaho)
Cecilia Vasquez, Louisiana (Jr., SS – New Waverly, Texas)
Meagan Brown, ULM (So., OF – Katy, Texas)
Reed Butler, James Madison (Gr., OF – Pomfret, Md.)
Emma Davis, Georgia Southern (Jr., OF – Grayson, Ga.)
Maddie Hayden, Louisiana (Sr., OF – West Monroe, La.)
Ciara Trahan, Texas State (Sr., OF – Sante Fe, Texas)
Payton List, James Madison (R-So., DP – Beaver, Pa.)
Madison Azua, Texas State (So., P – Round Rock, Texas)
Maddie Nichols, ULM (Jr., P – West Monroe, La.)
