AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Flagler College softball team was picked to finish in third place according to the Peach Belt Conference's preseason coaches' poll, which was released Thursday afternoon by conference officials. A pair of Saints, Sydney Stewart and Kyla Knier, were selected to the preseason all-conference team.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Flagler tallied 52 points.

Columbus State University was picked as the favorite with four first place votes for 60 points.  The University of North Georgia, the defending regular season champion, was picked to finish second as it received two first place votes and tallied 55 points. Lander University followed Flagler in fourth place with 47 points. 

The rest were USC Aiken (32 points), Georgia Southwestern State University (27), Georgia College & State University (24), USC Beaufort (14), and Augusta University (13).

Stewart, a senior shortstop, re-wrote most of the Flagler record book. She broke the following single-season records: batting average (.389), runs scored (59), hits (75), doubles (19), extra-base hits (32), and total bases (129). The Forston, Georgia native earned first team All-PBC honors last year.

Knier, a senior outfielder, batted .296 with eight home runs, and 35 runs batted in. The Stuart, Florida native collected 50 hits and scored 36 runs.

The Saints finished last year with an overall record of 35-24 and went 15-9 in conference play, which they finished in a tie for third place. Flagler made the conference tournament field last year and advanced to regional play for the first time since 2012.

Flagler returns five of its field players and three pitchers from last year's club.

Flagler opens the season Feb. 1 with a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at 1 p.m. at Flagler Field. The conference opener is March 8 at Augusta University.

Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Columbus State (4) 60
2. North Georgia (2) 55
3. Flagler 52
4. Lander 47
5. USC Aiken 32
6. Georgia Southwestern 27
7. Georgia College 24
8. USC Beaufort 14
9. Augusta 13
 
Softball Preseason All-Conference Team

1B - Mallory Shaver, USC Aiken
2B – Bobbi Poff, Augusta
3B – Bailee Roberts, Augusta
3B – Kam Caldwell, Georgia College
SS – Sydney Stewart, Flagler
C – Karlie Gutierrez, Georgia College
OF – Emily Allen, Lander
OF – Kyla Knier, Flagler
OF – Ashlyn Rogers, Georgia Southwestern
UT – Kate Newberry, USC Aiken
P – Payton Baker, USC Aiken

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