BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- West Liberty and West Virginia State have been tabbed by the league coaches as the preseason favorites for the 2022 Mountain East Conference softball season.

WLU is the pick to win in the North Division with 66 points, including 11 first-place points. The Hilltoppers are coming off back-to-back MEC Tournament titles and welcome back All-America pitcher Makenzie Amend to go along with fellow first-team all-region selections in centerfielder Katie Beeman and pitcher/first baseman Annie Paterson. 

Fairmont State was next with 51 points (one first-place vote), followed closely by Frostburg State (48). Notre Dame was slotted fourth (39 points), followed by Wheeling (25) and Alderson Broaddus (17).

West Virginia State landed atop the poll in the South Division finishing with 64 points, including nine first-team votes. WVSU is coming off a 29-14 season that included a South Division title and a runner-up finish at the MEC Tournament. The Yellow Jackets bring back last year's Freshman of the Year in Autumn Thompson, who was a second-team All-MEC selection along with Emma Ruth. WVSU also returns starter Kasey Murphy who went 11-8 in the circle with a 2.16 ERA to go along with a .346 batting average with seven home runs. 

Charleston was picked second in the division with 51 points and had three first-place votes. Concord was picked third with 43 points, followed by West Virginia Wesleyan (41), Glenville State (24) and Davis & Elkins (23).

After a 30-14 overall finish in the 2020-2021 season,  Charleston went 23-9 in conference play including a 2-2 record against West Virginia State University.

Charleston returns several starters this season including three First Team All-MEC 2021 selections, Rose, Marshall, and Bauer. Danielle Bauer held a 15-6 record with a 1.66 ERA. Hannah Rose lead the offense with a .411 batting average. The four-year starter, Kendal Marshall returns for her fifth year after boasting a .344 batting average.