NEW ORLEANS – Texas State softball received multiple conference honors in the 2026 preseason polls, including a first-overall selection in the Coaches Poll. The Bobcats swept the preseason awards as well, with Aiyana Coleman being named Preseason Player of the Year and Madison Azua being named Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The pair were named to the Preseason All-Conference list alongside senior catcher Megan Kelnar.
 
The reigning-conference regular season champion Bobcats were selected first in the preseason coaches' poll with 138 votes, tallying eight first-place votes. This is the second time since 2018 that Texas State has been named preseason favorites, earning the accolade in 2025 as well.

Texas State were Sun Belt Champions in the regular season last year after going 16-8 in conference play and 34-19 on the year.

Azua was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career. Azua is a junior out of Round Rock, Texas, who is coming off a 20-win sophomore campaign. Azua was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference after her 2025 season where she had 11 conference wins in her 20 overall wins while tallying a 2.76 ERA on the year. She struck out 187 batters in just 170 innings for one of the best strikeout rates in the nation. Azua's impressive sophomore campaign already has her on the Texas State Softball top 10 program record list for strikeouts. 
 
Coleman was named Preseason Player of the Year after a record-breaking junior campaign. The College Station native was named Sun Belt Player and Newcomer of the Year in addition to being named to the NFCA All-Region 3^rd Team for her efforts in 2025. Coleman broke Texas State program records for home runs (17), RBI (55), and slugging percentage (.893) last season. She batted .421 on the year which was one of the best averages in the Sun Belt. She was also walked 44 times last season which was the 2^nd most in a single season in Texas State history. 
 
This is the fifth year in a row a Bobcat has earned an individual preseason honor from the Sun Belt. This comes after Maddy Azua was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year in 2025, Jessica Mullins won the 2023 and 2024 Preseason Pitcher of the Year award and Sara Vanderford won the 2022 Preseason Player of the Year award. Texas State has not won both the Pitcher and Player Preseason accolade in the same season since 2018. Ariel Ortiz was named Player of the Year and Randi Rupp Pitcher of the Year that season.
 
Kelnar also earned a nod as a Preseason All-Conference pick following an All-Conference First Team selection in the 2025 season. She played at both catcher and designated hitter of the Bobcats while hitting at a .400+ mark while tallying 32 hits and scoring 13 runs. She led the Bobcats in doubles and had 19 RBI on the season. She also caught four runners stealing while recording 184 putouts and 19 assists from behind the plate.
 
Texas State was one of only two teams to have three players named to the All-Conference team, alongside the ULM Warhawks.
 
Texas State will begin its 2026 season on Thursday, February 5 at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. The Bobcats first game of the year will be against Toledo at 4:30 pm. The team will host its home opener on Feb. 12 against #12 Clemson at 5 pm in Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
Tickets are on sale now at TXST.com/tickets. 

2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Texas State (8) – 138
2. ULM – 113
3. Louisiana (1) – 109
4. Coastal Carolina (2) – 104
5. Marshall (1) – 100
6. App State – 85
7. James Madison – 75
8. Georgia Southern – 64
9. Troy – 63
10. South Alabama – 42
11. Southern Miss – 29
12. Georgia State – 14

2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Aiyana Coleman, Texas State (Sr., 1B – College Station, Texas)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Madison Azua, Texas State (Jr., LHP – Round Rock, Texas)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
P Madison Azua, Texas State (Jr., LHP – Round Rock, Texas)
P Alana Barnard, Georgia Southern (Sr., RHP – Statesboro, Ga.)
C Megan Kelnar, Texas State (Sr., C – Kyle, Texas)
1B Aiyana Coleman, Texas State (Sr., 1B – College Station, Texas)
1B Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina (Jr., 1B – Mount Gambier, Australia)
2B Morgan Brown, ULM (R-So., 2B – Katy, Texas)
2B Makayla McClain, App State (Sr., 2B – Liberty, N.C.)
3B Olivia Branstetter, South Alabama (Jr., 3B – Liberty, Mo.)
3B Cali Legzdin, James Madison (So., 3B – Beaver Falls, Pa.)
SS Grace Barrett, App State (Jr., SS – Milton, Ga.)
OF Meagan Brown, ULM (Jr., OF – Katy, Texas)
OF Hannah Christian, Southern Miss (So., OF – Hoover, Ala.)
OF Diamond Leslie, Marshall (So., OF – Alpharetta, Ga.)
OF Brooklin Lippert, ULM (Jr., OF – Loganville, Ga.)
DP Payton List, James Madison (R-Jr., DP – Beaver, Pa.)