Westfield, Mass.— Bridgewater State, Framingham State and Worcester State headline the 2023 MASCAC Softball preseason poll after finishing with the same number of points prior to the start of the season. 

The trio of schools finished with 42 points apiece. Reigning MASCAC Regular Season Champions Bridgewater State tallied three first place votes as did Worcester State while 2023 Tournament Champions Framingham State earned the final two. 

For the Bears, All-Conference designated player Madison Dana returns for the team who was 12-2 last season in conference play. She batted .348 (24-69) with a home run, five doubles and 16 RBI to go along with a .382 on base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage in 2022.

The Rams were 10-4 during MASCAC action in 2022. Cam Desrochers returns after she earned her fourth All-Conference selection after posting a .307 average and a .428 OBP slugging 10 doubles, three homers, driving in 16 runs and scoring 34 while leading the league with 21 walks.

The Lancers had an 11-3 record during the league slate last season. Reigning 2022 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Emily Bartlett is back in the circle for the team after she led the league in total strikeouts with 148, averaging 8.29 per game. She also was atop the conference with three shutouts. She finished the regular season with 10 wins, eight complete games and a 2.41 ERA over 25 appearances.

Coming in fourth with 33 points is Westfield State. The Owls tied for third at 10-4 in 2022 conference play. Christina Ciampa finished 2022 in the top 10 in the league with a .333 batting average.  She hit two home runs and scored 21 runs, and she fielded .971 for the year and threw out 17 percent of would-be base stealers.

Fitchburg State is fifth with 23 points. The Falcons had six wins during MASCAC play last season. Molly Grass is back at short after she hit .362, including 46 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 35 runs scored, 39 RBI, 21 walks and five steals.

Landing in sixth is Salem State with 21 points. The Vikings collected five wins last season. Emily Carter tallied six wins in the circle with 20 complete games and 83 strikeouts while batting .209 with a double, three RBI and four runs scored last season.

Rounding out the 2023 poll in seventh and eighth are MCLA and Massachusetts Maritime with 11 and nine points, respectively. All-Conference honoree Madison Teta is back for the Trailblazers. She led the league in hitting as she ended the year batting .467 with 32 runs scored and 10 RBI.  She set a school record for stolen bases with 34, which also led the conference. For the Buccaneers, Abby Pope returns after batting .263 with two doubles, a triple, nine RBI, 16 walks and 15 stolen bases last season.

The MASCAC softball squads begin their 2023 season with play over spring break with conference action starting the weekend of April 1.