ALVA, Okla.- The Northwestern Oklahoma State University softball team will begin the 2019 season picked No. 9 overall according to the Great American Conference preseason poll, despite the team only returning two of nine starters from last season.

The Lady Rangers bring back one of its eight regular position starters in Morgan Kirk, and one of its starting pitchers in Karly Murray, while also returning multiple girls with in game experience to help pace the Lady Rangers line-up.

Northwestern is coming off a 17-33 overall record, going 16-28 in GAC play. It was their second season finishing with a record above .500.

The Lady Rangers, with 33 points, are just one point above 10^th ranked Oklahoma Baptist.

Southeastern Arkansas is the preseason favorite with 121 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes, followed by Arkansas Tech. with 110 points and one first place vote in second.

Harding sits in third with 92 points, followed by Henderson State in fourth with 90 points. Southeastern Oklahoma State is just three points below them at 87, while Southern Nazarene is ranked sixth with 68 points.

East Central and Ouachita Baptist are seventh and eighth respectively while Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma State round out the preseason poll.

Northwestern softball begins the season at the Edmond Regional Festival hosted by Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian. First game is scheduled for Feb. 15 at UCO, followed by a contest later in the afternoon against Colorado Christian.
 
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