NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Sun Belt Conference office announced on Wednesday that three University of South Alabama softball student-athletes were voted to the 2015 Preseason all-SBC Team and the Jaguars were picked to finish second behind reigning champion Louisiana-Lafayette in the preseason poll.
 
Senior Farish Beard was one of two pitchers selected to the team, along with SBC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Christina Hamilton of the Ragin' Cajuns. Beard was a first-team all-SBC at-large honoree in 2014, finishing the year as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) all-South Region selection for the second season in a row, in addition to registering the NCAA's sixth best ERA, a 1.23, to help the Jaguars claim the NCAA statistical title in the category with a 1.29 overall.
 
Stephanie Pilkington and Blair Johnson took two of three Preseason all-SBC nods at the outfield position. Pilkington was an all-conference first-teamer last year, finishing with the club's second best batting average, a 2.92, while leading in hits, triples and sacrifice hits. Johnson was a second-teamer that finished last season second on the team in hits, sacrifice hits and sacrifice flies. Johnson has now been voted Preseason all-SBC three times.
 
"Preseason recognition is a great way to start the season, and it is always special for our student-athletes to be recognized by the coaches in the league," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "The Sun Belt Conference is home to some extremely talented softball players and some incredibly competitive teams, so to be recognized is no small accomplishment. I think the young ladies who were chosen are all very deserving based on their body of work last year. I know we are all ready to start the season and let the actual play on the field be the ultimate deciding factor."

2015 Sun Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference Team
P: Christina Hamilton (Louisiana-Lafayette, Redshirt Senior, Pitcher); Farish Beard (South Alabama, Senior, Pitcher)
C: Lexie Elkins (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, Catcher)
1B: Lauren Coleman (Georgia State, Senior, First Base)
2B: Miyuki Navarrete (Louisiana-Monroe, Redshirt Senior, Second Base)
SS: Taylor Anderson (Georgia State, Junior, Shortstop)
3B: Courtney Harris (Texas State, Senior, Third Base)
OF: Rochelle Roberts (Louisiana-Monroe, Sophomore, Outfield); Blair Johnson (South Alabama, Senior, Outfield); Stephanie Pilkington (South Alabama, Junior, Outfield)
DP: Kortney Koroll (Texas State, Senior, Designated Player)
At-Large: Taylor Rogers (Georgia Southern, Sophomore, Outfield); Haley Hayden (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sophomore, Second Base); Shellie Landry (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, Outfield); Alexis Cacioppo (Louisiana-Monroe, Senior, Third Base)
 
2015 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Lexie Elkins (Louisiana-Lafayette, Junior, Catcher)
 
2015 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher Player of the Year
Christina Hamilton (Louisiana-Lafayette, Redshirt Senior, Pitcher)
 
2015 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)

1. Louisiana-Lafayette (7) - 79 pts
2. South Alabama (2) - 74 pts
3. Georgia State - 57 pts
4. Texas State - 48 pts
5. Georgia Southern - 44 pts
6. Troy - 37 pts
7. Louisiana-Monroe - 27 pts
8. Texas-Arlington - 24 pts
9. Appalachian State - 15 pts

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).