Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs have been picked to finish fifth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference softball poll, which was released Wednesday morning. The poll is voted on by the league's head coaches. In addition, sophomore infielder Heaven Maness has earned preseason first team All-SAC honors. The Bulldogs went 21-18 in the 2021 season, with a 14-10 record in league play.

Defending champion Lincoln Memorial is the preseason favorite, followed by Anderson, Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman. Wingate is fifth, with Tusculum, Catawba and Newberry rounding out the top eight. UVA Wise and Limestone are tied for ninth, followed by Coker, Mars Hill and Queens.

Maness had an impressive first season at Wingate, being named the SAC Freshman of the Year while also earning first team All-SAC honors. She was named an All-Region selection by the NFCA and the D2CCA. Maness was also named the Wingate University Freshman Female Athlete of the Year at the 2021 WUSPYS.

Maness hit .426 with 12 doubles, four triples, five homers and 36 RBI, scoring 28 runs while stealing 14 bases. She compiled a .750 slugging percentage and .461 on-base percentage, leading the 'Dogs in average, doubles, triples, homers, RBI, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Maness finished second in the SAC in batting average, third in triples, fifth in doubles, seventh in slugging percentage and stolen bases, eighth in RBI and 10th in total bases. She had 15 multi-hit games on the year, driving in multiple runs a team-best eight times.

2022 Softball Preseason Poll

Rank School (1st Place Votes) Points
1 Lincoln Memorial (9) 153
2 Anderson (4) 145
3 Lenoir-Rhyne 122
4 Carson-Newman 119
5 Wingate 111
6 Tusculum 94
T7 Catawba 82
T7 Newberry 82
T9 UVA Wise 68
T9 Limestone 68
11 Coker 49
12 Mars Hill 43
13 Queens 34

2022 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC 1st Team
OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman
OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
1B – Kayson Boatner, Anderson
2B – Katie Wilbur, Limestone
SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
3B – Heaven Maness, Wingate
DP – McKenna Falwell, UVA Wise
UTL/Non-P – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
UTL/P - Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
C – McKenzie Henry, Lincoln Memorial
P – Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial
P – Harlie Duncan, Anderson

All-SAC 2nd Team
OF – Kelsi Scott, Coker
OF – Anna Alloway, Tusculum
OF – Mya Maddox, Tusculum
1B – Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
2B – Sarah Barrett, UVA Wise
SS – Leah Sohm, Carson-Newman
3B – Hannah Towery, Newberry
DP – Hailey Hill, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Ashley Parnell, Limestone
UTL/P - Emily Sappington, Tusculum
C – Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum
P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Alexandrea Sullivan, Newberry

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 24 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.