The University of Charleston softball team has received high praise entering the 2017 season. The Golden Eagles, who made their first trip to the Division II Women's College World Series last season, were ranked No. 8 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason top 25 poll, released Wednesday.
UC finished the 2016 season at 50-12 and ranked in that same No. 8 spot following the WCWS, where they lost twice. New coach Kimberly Stiles, who came to Charleston from Davis & Elkins, will lead a team returning several key players, including NFCA preseason first-team All-American pitcher Alli Burdette and infielder Laura Ashlock, who led UC with a .356 batting average and cracked a program-record 13 home runs in 2016.
UC isn't the only Mountain East Conference team to be found in the preseason top 25. West Virginia Wesleyan, who beat UC in the MEC tournament, but lost to the Golden Eagles in the super regionals, came in at No. 15.