ATLANTA – With the season less than one month away, the FGCU softball team was picked to finish third in the league’s Coaches’ Poll. Junior Marissa Mesiemore and Reedy Davenport represented FGCU on the Preseason All-Conference list.
FGCU collected 46 points to finish third behind Lipscomb (54) and league favorite Liberty (57). North Alabama (45) was picked fourth, while Kennesaw State (29), North Florida (27) went five and six. Jacksonville and Stetson finished in a tie for seventh with 17 points.
“Our place in the poll just gives us a little more incentive to go ahead outplay where people believe we’re going to finish,” said head coach David Deiros. “I think we’re better than the prediction but we’ve got to make sure we show it on the field in one of the toughest conferences in the country.”
Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) is looking to build upon her 2019 season as she was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. In 50 games last season, the shortstop started 49 of them, batting .291 with seven doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI.
“Reedy is looking to build on what was a really good freshman year in which she was deservingly the Freshman of the Year,” stated Deiros. “She’s got to continue to build off that and we think she can do just that.”
Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) made 19 starts in 25 contests last season in the circle for the Green and Blue. She posted a 10-8 record while holding a 1.80 ERA in 116.2 IP. In league action, Mesiemore held batters to a 0.86 ERA, ranking third in the ASUN.
“Marissa had her coming out year in 2019 and had a really solid performance all season long,” stated Deiros. “Now it’s time for her to take it to the next level and the other coaches in the conference believe she is capable of doing so.”
Preseason Player of the Year: Hannah DeVault, Lipscomb
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah DeVault, Lipscomb
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Megan Garst, North Alabama*
ASUN Preseason Softball All-Conference Team
*P – Megan Garst, UNA, Sr.
P – Marissa Mesiemore, FGCU, Jr.
C – Blake Crews, Stetson, Sr.
IF – Hannah DeVault, Lipscomb, Sr.
IF – Amber Bishop, Liberty, Sr.
IF – Autumn Bishop, Liberty, Sr.
IF – Reedy Davenport, FGCU, So.
OF – Kassidy Cross, Jacksonville, Sr.
OF – Madsion Via, Liberty, Jr.
OF – Elizabeth Jackson, Stetson, Sr.
UT/DP – Jade Lee, Kennesaw State, Sr.
* – denotes unanimous selection to the Preseason Team
| Place | Team | 1st Place Votes | Points |
| 1. | Liberty | 3 | 57 |
| 2. | Lipscomb | 2 | 54 |
| 3. | FGCU | 1 | 46 |
| 4. | North Alabama | 2 | 45 |
| 5. | Kennesaw State | 29 | |
| 6. | North Florida | 27 | |
| 7. | Jacksonville | 15 | |
| 7. | Stetson | 15 |
