Jan. 24, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Ohio Valley Conference has announced that Southeast Missouri State softball was picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll that was released by the conference today. The Redhawks gained 51 points in the poll that was comprised of the conference's 10 head coaches.

The Redhawks posted a 28-24 record last season, finished fifth in the OVC with a 14-13 ledger and advanced to the OVC Tournament for the 13th consecutive year. Head Coach Lana Richmond welcomes back eight letterwinners, including 2006 All-OVC honorees Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Cape Central), Lindsay Pickering (St. Charles, Mo./St. Charles West HS) and Michelle Summers (Glendale, Calif./Hoover).

Also returning this season are junior pitcher Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell North) and sophomore infielder/pitcher Lauren Bradley (Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission South). In addition, Richmond welcomes seven newcomers with impressive prep credentials to the Redhawk squad.

Tennessee Tech, the reigning OVC regular-season and tournament champions, was favored to claim the title for the second year in a row with 79 points and eight first-place votes. Eastern Kentucky (72 points) and Jacksonville State (65 points) split the final two first-place votes to be selected second and third, respectively, ahead of Southeast and fifth-place Tennessee-Martin (48 points). Rounding out the poll are Eastern Illinois (47 points - 6th), Austin Peay (30 points - T-7th), Samford (30 points - T-7th), Tennessee State (15 points - 9th) and Morehead State (13 points - 10th).

The Redhawks kick off the 2007 season on Feb. 17 at the UT Martin Hospitality House Classic with contests against Saint Louis (10 a.m.), Ball State (12:30 p.m.) and Indiana State (3 p.m.).