FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — On Wednesday, Arkansas softball was picked to finish fourth in the SEC after its monumental 2023 season that saw the Razorbacks earn the No. 11 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll was released on Wednesday, with Tennessee predicted to win the league, earning six first-place votes. League coaches selected Georgia and LSU ahead of Arkansas, who compiled its third consecutive 40-win season and a top-four SEC finish last year.
2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll:
(First-place votes in parentheses)
Place – School – Points
- Tennessee (6) – 137
- Georgia (6) – 136
- LSU – 106
- Arkansas – 103
- Auburn – 100
- Alabama – 88
- Florida (1) – 77
- Texas A&M – 75
- South Carolina – 68
- Kentucky – 53
- Missouri – 28
- Ole Miss – 24
- Mississippi State – 19
Along with the fourth-place team prediction, Arkansas redshirt senior utility player Rylin Hedgecock was named Preseason-All-SEC by the league's coaches.
Hedgecock, who earned NFCA First-Team All-America and All-SEC honors in 2023, led the Razorbacks with a .335 batting average, 21 home runs, 62 RBI, 127 total bases, a .459 on-base percentage and a .774 slugging percentage last season.
SEC head coaches vote on the preseason All-SEC Softball Team, consisting of at least 21 players, to highlight the upcoming season.
Arkansas opens its 2024 campaign against Marshall on Feb. 8 at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. The Hogs open their home slate at Bogle Park against Illinois State on Feb. 22.
For the entire 2024 Razorback softball schedule, click here.