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FRISCO — UTSA was picked to finish fifth in both Southland Conference Preseason Softball Polls, while senior Caitlyn Ivy and sophomore Molly Fichtner were named second-team all-conference, the league office announced on Thursday.
The Roadrunners, who return 11 letterwinners from last year’s 28-win squad that finished fifth in the Southland (17-13), received 68 points in the coaches poll and 67 from the league’s sports information directors (SIDs).
A two-time all-conference selection, Ivy earned third-team honors last season in her first full campaign at first base. The Huntington native appeared in all 55 games and hit .277 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs.
Fichtner, the 2011 Southland Freshman of the Year, was a second-team all-league catcher a season ago. She led UTSA in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.350), runs scored (40), homers (11), RBIs (34). Defensively, she threw out 21 baserunners, which was the second most in the circuit.
Defending Southland Tournament Champion Texas State is favored to win the regular season crown. The Bobcats secured 93 points and six first-place votes from the SIDs and 92 and four from the coaches.
The Roadrunners will open the 2012 season on Feb 10 at the three-day Texas Classic where they will face Colorado State, Texas and Cal State Fullerton.