Sun Belt Unveils 2026 Softball Preseason Awards, Coaches Poll

NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference introduced its 2026 Softball Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, particular person awards and preseason ballot.
 
For the second yr in a row, reigning common season champion Texas State acquired 138 factors and eight first-place votes to garner the crown as preseason favourite, based on a vote by the leagues head coaches. The Bobcats return 75.5 % of their at bats and 96.8 % of their innings pitched from final yr’s roster that produced a 34-19 total report and a 16-8 mark in Sun Belt play.
 
ULM was picked second with 113 factors, adopted by Louisiana in third with 109 factors and one first place vote, reigning event champion Coastal Carolina in fourth with 104 factors and two first place votes and Marshall in fifth with 100 factors and one first place nod.

     

 

Texas State senior first baseman Aiyana Coleman – the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year – was voted because the convention’s 2026 Preseason Player of the Year, whereas teammate and junior left-handed pitcher Madison Azua was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year for the second yr in a row.

 

Coleman returns for the Bobcats because the Sun Belt’s chief in slugging proportion (.966), OPS (1.577), RBI (33) and walks (29) whereas boasting top-five marks in batting common (.431), on base proportion (.611) and residential runs (10) in convention play final season. The College Station, Texas native was named to the 2025 NFCA All-Central Region Third Team and have become Texas State’s single-season report holder for dwelling runs (17), RBI (55) and slugging proportion (.893).

 

A 2025 All-Sun Belt First Team pitcher, Azua compiled a 20-8 report and a 2.76 ERA throughout 170 innings within the circle final season. In convention play, the Round Rock, Texas native earned a league-leading 11 wins and 93 strikeouts in 90.2 innings of labor whereas holding opposing hitters to a .215 batting common.

 

Texas State and ULM led all Sun Belt packages with three Preseason All-Sun Belt honorees apiece, whereas App State and James Madison additionally had a number of alternatives with two every.

 

The 2026 marketing campaign begins Thursday, February 5, and the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship shall be held May 6-9 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La.

 

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.)

 

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

First-place votes in parentheses