HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team was picked fifth in the Southland Conference preseason polls by the league's head coach and sports information directors, the conference office announced on Thursday.
 
Stephen F. Austin was picked to finish atop the Southland Conference standings, followed by defending Southland champion Sam Houston State. McNeese, Nicholls and SLU round out the top five, followed by Northwestern State, Central Arkansas and Lamar.
 
Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UIW round out the poll. The top eight teams in the Southland Conference standings will advance to the league tournament, scheduled for May 5-8 at North Oak Park on the Southeastern campus.
 
With four positional starters and the top five pitchers returning, as well as an influx of talented newcomers, SLU enters the 2020 season with higher aspirations than mirroring last year's fifth-place finish in the conference standings.
 
The 2018 and 2019 campaigns saw the Lady Lions post the two highest single-season win totals in program history. With SLU head coach Rick Fremin entering his fifth season in Hammond, the Lady Lion squad seems poised to reach for loftier goals.
 
Southeastern will be counting on contributions from players both experienced and new to Hammond. Two returning All-Southland Conference players – senior pitcher Alley McDonald and sophomore shortstop Lindsey Rizzo – are among the key veterans the Lady Lions will be counting on as the season progresses. Like the team as a whole, McDonald and Rizzo enter 2020 with higher individual expectations than a season ago.
 
After pitching behind veterans in her first two collegiate seasons, McDonald broke out in a big way as a junior. Taking over the staff ace role, McDonald finished 13-7 with a 2.34 earned run average on the way to earning All-Southland and All-Louisiana notice. The Whitehouse, Tennessee native was particularly effective in conference play, finishing with an 11-2 record versus league opposition.
 
McDonald enters her final campaign as the unquestioned leader of the SLU staff, but she certainly won't have to singularly carry the load. The deepest Lady Lion pitching core in recent memory includes returners Tanner Wright, Sophie Hannabas, Karlee Kraft and Shelby Sitzman, as well as new faces Heather Zumo, MC Comeaux and Anna Westberry.
 
McDonald is eager to play whatever role is necessary for Southeastern to win.
 
"I just want to focus on doing my job and helping our team win a championship," McDonald commented. "We're really excited about our staff as a whole, because all eight of us have different strengths that are going to help us win games. I don't enter this final season with any personal goals beyond going as hard as I can for my teammates."
 
Rizzo came to Hammond out of Live Oak High School and started from day one of her freshman season. The Watson, Louisiana native batted .322, ranked seventh in the Southland with 27 stolen bases and doubled as the best defensive shortstop to don the green and gold in recent memory.
 
Rizzo's role will have to grow in 2020. In addition to be a key cog at the top of the SLU lineup, Rizzo will be flanked by new starters at first, second and third base, as the Lady Lions have to replace three All-Southland upperclassmen at those three infield positions.
 
"With almost a whole new infield, we're having to get used to playing together, but so far it's been great," Rizzo said. "My teammates took me in as a freshman and made me feel comfortable and now I'm more confident heading into my sophomore year. Coach Fremin has asked me to be more vocal and more of a leader on the infield this season, so that's one of the main things I'm focused on."
 
McDonald, now in her fourth season with Southeastern and one of three seniors on the 2020 roster, has seen the program's growth under Fremin's direction.
 
"We have some amazing talent on our team," McDonald stated. "Our goals are nothing less than winning the conference and advancing to a regional. We're going to compete hard every day and work towards those goals."
 
Provided the Lady Lions finish in the conference's top eight, Southeastern will be vying for its first-ever Southland Conference Tournament title – and get to do so on their home turf.
 
"We're so excited to play the conference tournament here at home," Rizzo said. "With all the new improvements around the facility, it's going to be a great environment."
 
McDonald echoed Rizzo's sentiments.
 
"With it being my senior year, it's exciting to be able to go out with a bang on my home field in the conference tournament," McDonald said. "It's a great opportunity for our team and hopefully we'll leave it all on the field and take the whole thing."
 
Up Next
Southeastern will open the 2020 campaign next Friday, hosting Buffalo at 4 p.m. at North Oak Park to open the Lion Classic.
 
SLU will also host a Baseball/Softball Season Ticket Appreciation Event on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Victory Club (fifth floor of Strawberry Stadium) to kick off "Spring Into Spring" week at Southeastern.
 
An exclusive event open to 2020 baseball and softball season ticket holders only, the event will feature season ticket pickup and light refreshments. Fans wishing to purchase season tickets will have an opportunity to do so before entering the event.
 
Head baseball coach Matt Riser and head softball coach Rick Fremin will speak at 6 p.m. Select student-athletes from both teams will be on hand to sign autographs.
 
2020 Southland Conference Preseason Polls
Team (First place votes) – Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (11) – 217
2. Sam Houston State (10) – 210
3. McNeese (1) – 202
4. Nicholls (2) – 186
5. Southeastern Louisiana – 177
6. Northwestern State – 152
7. Central Arkansas – 122
8. Lamar – 110
9. Abilene Christian – 61
10. Houston Baptist – 56
11. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 52
12. UIW - 39
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.