Two Tigers Named to Preseason All-SEC Softball Team Despite Low Conference Poll Ranking
The Missouri softball team may have finished with a 35-26 record last season, but 17 of those losses came in the SEC. Their overall win percentage was No. 11 in the conference, but their SEC record was the worst.
The Tigers were ranked at No. 11 in Tuesday's Preseason SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Additionally, Mizzou received nine votes in the 2024 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.
Missouri's slight upgrade is somewhat due in part to the expected growth of two conference standouts, senior center fielder Alex Honnold and senior shortstop Jenna Laird. These two were named to the Preseason All-SEC Softball Team and the Top 50 Watch List for the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Honnold led Mizzou in on-base percentage (.539), slugging percentage (.779), runs (52), batting average (.396) and triples (three) during the 2023 season as she was named a Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year, awarded NFCA Second-Team All-American and Second Team All-SEC honors.
Laird was named to the 2023 All-SEC Second Team as she paced Missouri with 198 at-bats, 52 runs and 70 hits as the Tigers' leadoff hitter. Laird knocked 12 doubles in 2023, while leading Mizzou on the basepaths, going 30-for-34 on stolen bases. She shined defensively as well, as she registered a .978 fielding percentage with 76 putouts, 104 assists and 11 double plays.
2024 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team
- Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas
- Maddie Penta, Auburn
- Nelia Peralta, Auburn
- Kendra Falby, Florida
- Skylar Wallace, Florida
- Jayda Kearney, Georgia
- Sydney Kuma, Georgia
- Sara Mosley, Georgia
- Shelby Walters, Georgia
- Erin Coffel, Kentucky
- Stephanie Schnoover, Kentucky
- Sydney Berzon, LSU
- Ciara Briggs, LSU
- Danieca Coffey, LSU
- Taylor Pleasants, LSU
- Alex Honnold, Missouri
- Jenna Laird, Missouri
- Alana Vawter, South Carolina
- McKenna Gibson, Tennessee
- Payton Gottshall, Tennessee
- Kiki Milloy, Tennessee
- Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee
- Zaida Puni, Tennessee
- Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M
2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
- Tennessee (6) – 137 points
- Georgia (6) – 136 points
- LSU – 106 points
- Arkansas – 103 points
- Auburn – 100 points
- Alabama – 88 points
- Florida (1) – 77 points
- Texas A&M – 75 points
- South Carolina – 68 points
- Kentucky – 53 points
- Missouri – 28 points
- Ole Miss – 24 points
- Mississippi State – 19 points
