The Lone Star Conference (LSC) has announced the 2022 LSC Softball Preseason Poll as voted upon by coaches and representatives across the league on Wednesday afternoon. The Eastern New Mexico softball team was selected to finish in 15th.

The reigning regular season champions, UT Tyler, were selected to finish at the top of the conference standings totaling 654 points and 22 first place votes. West Texas A&M, the reigning Division II National Champions, finished just behind the Patriots posting 629 total points and 16 first place votes. Angelo State followed next with 571 total points and one first place vote, Oklahoma Christian finished in fourth with 565 total points and three first place votes, while Texas A&M-Commerce rounded out the top five with 525 total points.

In addition to the poll, the LSC announced that West Texas A&M’s Ruby Salzman was tabbed LSC Preseason Player of the Year, while UT Tyler’s Payton Foster captured LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year acclaim.

Last time out, ENMU completed its 2021 season with a 4-27 overall record, and a 4-26 standing in conference play. The Hounds will be bringing back 14 student-athletes from the previous season, along with 10 new members to the Greyhounds program. Azalea Martinez returns after leading the Hounds in batting average (.293) and hits (22), along with leaders in innings pitched Brook Leger, Maite Bustillos, and Jordan Bowman all returning.

The Hounds will compete in 14 single-game contests across three tournaments and 18 doubleheaders during the season, with 15 of those contests being LSC games, for a total of 50 games. The Hounds will play its first home contest of the season against Lubbock Christian University on Feb. 25 in a pair of non-conference games.

Eastern begin it’s season at the South Central Region Crossover Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M. against New Mexico Highlands on Feb. 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the Albuquerque Regional Sport Complex.

2022 LSC Softball Preseason Poll

Rank	School	1st	Total Points
1.	UT Tyler	22	654
2.	West Texas A&M	16	629
3.	Angelo State	1	571
4.	Oklahoma Christian	3	565
5.	Texas A&M-Commerce		525
6.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	1	481
7.	Lubbock Christian		423
8.	Texas A&M International		393
9.	Cameron		323
10.	St. Mary’s		321
11.	St. Edward’s		272
12.	Midwestern State		213
13.	Texas Women’s		182
14.	UT Permian Basin		146
15.	Eastern New Mexico		94
16	Western New Mexico		56