Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Cru totaled eight points in balloting of eight Division III softball coaches in the poll and the UMHB softball team is appearing in the NFCA Top 25 Poll for the first time in school history. UMHB is one of three teams to be mentioned in the NFCA Top 25 Poll. Louisiana College is ranked fourth and Mississippi College is ranked 25th in the poll. Defending national champion Linfield College grabbed all eight first-place votes and 200 total points as the pick to successfully defend that national title.

The Cru returns 12 letter winners and eight starting position players from a team that went 22-16 overall and 18-6 in American Southwest Conference play last season. UMHB also returns all four pitchers from last season’s team. The Cru will open the 2008 season with a home non-conference doubleheader against Trinity University on February 16th