CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – UMBC softball was picked to finish sixth out of seven teams in the annual America East Coaches' Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Friday.
The 2013 America East regular-season champion Albany was picked to repeat, receiving five first-place votes and 34 votes overall. Last season's fourth seed and tournament winner Stony Brook came in a close second, totaling 31 votes and two first-place tabs. Binghamton, last year's second seed, also received a first-place vote in the third slot with 28 overall votes.
Hartford came in the fourth spot with 19 votes, narrowly beating out Maine (18). The Retrievers notched 10 votes, followed by conference-newcomer UMass Lowell (seven).
The Retrievers open the 2014 slate with five contests at the UNC-Wilmington Tournament on Feb. 14-16.
UMBC opens league action at home on March 29, with a three-game series against Stony Brook. The top four teams in the conference make the America East Championships, which are set for Saturday, May 8-10, with all games to be hosted by the highest seed.
French is back for his 13th season at the helm of the Retrievers and adds nine newcomers to his 12 returning letterwinners from a year ago. French looks to bring the black and gold back to the America East Championships for the first time since 2011.
Junior catcher Taylor Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) and sophomore utility player Danielle O'Neill (Loathian, Md./Southern) each return after garnering postseason recognition from the America East last season, with Hall earning All-Conference First Team distinctions and O'Neill being named to the Second Team.
Softball Picked to Finish Sixth in AEC Preseason Poll
Jan 31, 2014
May 7, 2014
Softball Earns Five Awards at Conference Banquet
May 2, 2014
UMBC Softball Drops Two to Albany
April 27, 2014
Long-Ball Key as Softball Takes Two at Hartford
April 26, 2014
Softball Postponed Due to Weather
April 19, 2014
Big Bats Power UMBC Softball to Sweep of UMass Lowell
April 17, 2014
Softball Hosts League-Newcomer UMass Lowell
April 11, 2014
Softball Blanks Maine in Series Opener, 3-0
April 10, 2014
Softball Looks to Get Back on Track at Maine
April 9, 2014
Softball Homers Four Times But Falls to Georgetown, 8-6
April 8, 2014
Softball Meets Georgetown in Midweek Clash
April 6, 2014
The Long Ball Downs UMBC Softball at Binghamton
April 5, 2014
Softball Drops Series Opener Against Binghamton, 6-2
April 2, 2014
Grand Slams Highlight UMBC Sweep Against Howard
April 2, 2014
Softball Takes on Howard in Midweek Doubleheader
April 1, 2014
Softball Drops a Pair of One-Run Contests to Stony Brook
March 30, 2014
Softball Series Update Against Stony Brook*
March 27, 2014
Softball Holds Off George Washington, 10-6
March 27, 2014
Softball Hosts Stony Brook in America East Opener
March 25, 2014
Softball Versus George Washington Moved to Thursday
March 23, 2014
Softball Splits in Final Day of Spring Classic
March 21, 2014
Softball Game Postponed Due to Rain; Schedule Revision
March 20, 2014
Softball Hosts UMBC Spring Classic; Updated Schedule
March 19, 2014
UMBC Spring Classic Schedule Update
March 18, 2014
Holte Earns Third AEC Pitcher of the Week Honor
March 16, 2014
French Earns 800th Career Victory; UMBC Defeats Hampton, 6-1
March 15, 2014
Softball Falls Short Versus Niagara, 5-3; Schedule Update***
March 13, 2014
Softball Hosts 10th Annual Dawg Pound Invitational
March 12, 2014
Softball’s Offense Falls Short Versus Towson, 8-0
March 10, 2014
Softball Welcomes Rhode Island in Home-Opening Doubleheader
March 9, 2014
UMBC Takes Three-Of-Four From UMES Over the Weekend
March 8, 2014
Lane’s Perfect Game Headlines UMBC Softball’s UMES Sweep
March 6, 2014
UMBC Makes Weekend Trip to UMES; Schedule Update
March 4, 2014
Hall and Holte Help UMBC Softball Sweep Weekly Awards
March 1, 2014
Softball Splits on Day One of Spartan Classic
February 27, 2014
*Schedule Update; Softball Looks to Stay Hot at Spartan Classic
February 25, 2014
Wednesday Softball Postponed at George Mason
February 25, 2014
Softball's Hall and Holte Earn America East Weekly Honors
February 22, 2014
Softball Victorious at Phoenix Opening Tournament
February 22, 2014
Softball Sweeps Day One of the Phoenix Opening Tournament
February 17, 2014
UMBC Softball Versus George Mason Postponed
February 16, 2014
Softball Splits on Final Day of the Seahawk Invitational
January 31, 2014
Softball Picked to Finish Sixth in AEC Preseason Poll
January 23, 2014
French Announces Schedule for UMBC Softball 2014 Slate
December 18, 2013
French Signs Five for UMBC Softball
December 6, 2013
French Announces Upcoming Fundraisers for UMBC Softball
October 21, 2013
Softball Newcomer Kathleen Sharp Receives NJCAA Award
October 13, 2013
Softball Update: Clinic Postponed Until Further Notice
October 11, 2013
Softball Update on Alumni Game Status; Clinic Still Set for Sunday
September 11, 2013
Joe French Announces Alvis to Rejoin UMBC Softball Coaching Staff
August 19, 2013
Softball Announces Fall Events