CLINTON, Miss. — The Mississippi College softball team has been ranked fourth in the 2025 Gulf South Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, announced Thursday, Jan. 23. The Lady Choctaws earned three first-place votes and totaled 95 points, trailing Alabama Huntsville, West Florida, and Auburn Montgomery in the standings.
Mississippi College enters the season following a historic 2024 campaign, achieving a program-best 48-9 record, a GSC regular-season title, and a national finish at No. 11 in the NFCA poll.
Junior pitcher Camryn Bailey and junior outfielder Shelby Samples were also named to the 2025 Preseason All-GSC Team. Bailey, the anchor of the Choctaws' pitching staff, garnered multiple accolades last season, including NFCA and D2CCA Second Team All-South Region and GSC First Team honors. She posted a 26-5 record, a 2.68 ERA, and 209 strikeouts.
Samples, a standout at the plate, earned NFCA Second Team All-South Region and GSC Second Team recognition in 2024. She maintained a .378 batting average, proving to be a consistent offensive force for the Lady Choctaws.
The Lady Choctaws also enter the season ranked No. 12 in the NFCA/GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, joining GSC rivals Auburn Montgomery (No. 6) and Trevecca Nazarene (No. 17) in the national rankings.
Mississippi College will open its 2025 season on Friday, Jan. 31, in Youngsville, La., with a doubleheader against No. 7 Augustana and Harding.
2025 GSC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll
- Alabama Huntsville (1) – 103 points
- West Florida (3) – 102 points
- Auburn Montgomery (4) – 101 points
- Mississippi College (3) – 95 points
- Valdosta State – 77 points
- West Alabama (1) – 71 points
- Trevecca Nazarene – 63 points
- Union – 62 points
- Lee – 43 points
- Montevallo – 40 points
- Christian Brothers – 20 points
- Delta State – 15 points
(First-place votes in parentheses)
Fans can follow the Lady Choctaws' progress throughout the season at gochoctaws.com.
