Feb. 5, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team has been picked to finish sixth in their first season in the Ohio Valley Conference as the conference office released it preseason coaches poll on Thursday.

The Bulldogs received 53 votes to finish behind Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri and Tennessee-Martin despite a 2-1 record against those teams last season.

Preseason favorite and defending OVC champ Tennessee Tech received six first place votes and 76 points. Conference new comer Jacksonville State picked up two first place votes and 65 points. Eastern Kentucky had 60 points while Southeast and UT-Martin tied for fourth each picking up one first place vote and 55 points.

"I think it gives us motivation to work even harder between now and the start of the conference season," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "Preseason polls really don't mean much. It is where you are standing at the end that counts."

Eastern Illinois was picked seventh with 30 points, Austin Peay (29), Tennessee State (14), and Morehead State (13) round out the preseason poll.

Samford posted a school record 27 wins last season with a 27-17-1 overall mark. The Bulldogs open the 2004 season at home against Southeast Louisiana on Friday, Feb. 13.