INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – The Cleveland State University softball team has been selected to finish eighth in the Horizon League in 2021, as selected by league head coaches.
UIC was tabbed as the preseason favorite after garnering nine of 10 possible first-place votes. Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky rounded out the top three.
Oakland was picked for a fourth-place finish along with Detroit Mercy but received the final first-place vote. IUPUI, Robert Morris claimed the next two spots while the Vikings were selected to finish ahead of both Purdue Fort Wayne and Green Bay.
Cleveland State will be under the direction of third-year head coach Amy Kyler, who led the program to a three-win improvement in her first season at the helm before having her second campaign cancelled after 19 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taylor Betz and Hanna Griffin return as the Vikings' most experienced hurlers after combining to throw over half of Cleveland State's total innings a year ago and logging 11 combined starts. Griffin tossed four complete games and compiled a 3.13 ERA while Betz allowed fewer than two runs in three of her six starts as a sophomore.
Sydney Bajusz is also back for her third season as a Viking after pacing the club in RBI (15), home runs (four) and at-bats (63) in last year's shortened season.
Basjusz and Courtney Fernette represent the lone seniors on a young Vikings roster.
Mackenzie Tucker also returns after posting a team-best .409/.458/.614 slash line across 19 games last season.
Cleveland State will open the 2021 season on February 12-13 as it plays host to Bowling Green for a pair of doubleheaders in the Krenzler Bubble.
2021 #HLSB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. UIC – 99 (9)
2. Youngstown State – 79
3. Northern Kentucky – 74
T4. Oakland – 63 (1)
T4. Detroit Mercy – 63
6. IUPUI – 49
7. Robert Morris – 44
8. Cleveland State – 32
9. Purdue Fort Wayne – 26
10. Green Bay – 21
