BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – SIUE softball garnered eight No. 1 votes in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll and enters the 2026 season predicted as the No. 2 team in the 10-team league.
SIUE completed last season 19-6 in the OVC with a 32-22 overall record. The Cougars placed second in the 2025 OVC standings and were the OVC Tournament runner-up.
Avery Arwood returns as an All-OVC pitcher from the 2025 season. The OVC also noted outfielder Kaylin Fahy and infielder Raegan Duncan as Players to Watch for the 2026 season.
By a vote of the league's coaches and athletic communicators, the OVC selected Southeast Missouri as the preseason favorite, joining SIUE with eight first-place votes. Eastern Illinois was picked third followed by Lindenwood, Southern Indiana, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, UT Martin, Western Illinois and Morehead State.
SIUE begins the 2026 season in California at the Fresno State Tournament (Feb. 6-8). SIUE plays three games against Idaho State and two against host Fresno State.
2026 OVC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southeast Missouri (8) - 148
2. SIUE (8) – 139
3. Eastern Illinois (3) – 138
4. Lindenwood – 108
5. Southern Indiana (1) – 107
6. Tennessee Tech – 75
7. Tennessee State – 68
8. UT Martin – 55
9. Western Illinois – 41
10. Morehead State - 21
Returning All-OVC
Morgan Hance, OF, Eastern Illinois
Karlie McKenzie, P, Eastern Illinois
Tori Hatton, IF, Lindenwood
Nicole Henson, OF, Lindenwood
Avery Wapp, P, Lindenwood
Maddy Christopher, OF, Morehead State
Sela Pickford, IF, Morehead State
Brooklyn Saysoff, IF, Southeast Missouri
Madison Winkler, OF, Southeast Missouri
Avery Arwood, P, SIUE
Jordan Mackey, C/IF, Southern Indiana
Caroline Stapleton, OF, Southern Indiana
Kylie Witthaus, P, Southern Indiana
Hailey Hunt, OF, Tennessee State
Payton Brown, IF/UT, Western Illinois
Watch List
Abi Hatton, UT, Eastern Illinois
Bryana French, P, Eastern Illinois
Ryleigh Owens, P, Lindenwood
Sydney Farmer, C/3B, Morehead State
Rylie Burney, P, Morehead State
Maddie Carney, P, Southeast Missouri
Aubrie Shore, IF, Southeast Missouri
Kaylin Fahy, OF, SIUE
Raegan Duncan, IF, SIUE
Sydney Long, 2B, Southern Indiana
Kate Satkoski, OF, Southern Indiana
Jace Jackson, MI, Tennessee State
Kailyn Jean-Baptiste, IF, Tennessee State
Emily York, P, Tennessee Tech
Olivia Evans, OF, Tennessee Tech
Avary Makarewicz, C, UT Martin
Dylan Scott, UT, UT Martin
Lillie Wools, P/UT, Western Illinois
Sophia Sanchez, 2B, Western Illinois
