Casey Richards, Graduate Assistant – Athletics Communications
ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State softball team took second-place in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, as announced by the league office Wednesday morning. Senior pitcher Taylor Baxter, senior first baseman Laura Canopy and redshirt senior outfielder Nichelle Harrison were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team, equaling Bradley for the most selections.
Defending conference tournament champion Northern Iowa was the unanimous top selection, receiving all 10 first-place votes for 100 points. The Redbirds followed in second with 83 points, with Drake a close third at 82 points. Southern Illinois placed fourth with 63 points, while Missouri State was fifth with 51 points. Loyola, Bradley, Wichita State, Evansville and Indiana State round out the poll.
Last season, the Redbirds finished 28-20 overall and 13-7 in the MVC, good for third-place in the league. ISU was defeated by Evansville in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament, as the Redbirds fell short of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
The Redbirds return six of 10 starters from last year’s squad, including Baxter, Canopy and Harrison.
As a junior in 2013, Baxter led the Redbirds in wins (15), appearances (30), starts (29), innings pitched (142.0), complete games (10) and shutouts (four). The Hannibal, Mo., native also posted a career-best 3.15 ERA on her way to All-MVC Second Team honors.
Canopy slugged her way to NFCA All-Mideast Region and All-MVC First Team accolades last season. The Hopedale, Ill., native tied for the league lead with 44 RBI and equaled the team-high with 10 home runs. She also hit a career-best .352, while scoring a team-most 45 runs.
Harrison started all 48 games in right field, accumulating a career-best .340 batting average to earn All-MVC Second Team honors. The Bloomington, Ill., native did not commit a single error all season long, while also tallying five outfield assists. An athletic training major, Harrison was also a 2013 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection.
The Redbirds will play a 55-game schedule in 2014, including 20 contests against 2013 NCAA Tournament teams. The campaign begins against preseason No. 4 Florida, Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla.
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