WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State is picked to finish 13th in the 2026 Lone Star Conference Softball Preseason Poll following voting by the conference softball head coaches, sports information directors and media members as announced on Wednesday.

Freshman Chipper Mayorga, an infielder from San Antonio, was named as a Preseason Player to Watch, and junior Kayleigh Bowers from Phoenix was named a Preseason Pitcher to Watch.

Mayorga was an All-District utility player at Class 5A Thomas A. Edison High School, while Bowers appeared in 27 games and made 21 starts for the Mustangs last year. Bowers finished the season with a 6-8 record and had a 4.82 ERA with seven complete games.

Two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion UT Tyler is the favorite to win its sixth consecutive Lone Star Conference softball title. Angelo State's Tatiana Trotter and Oklahoma Christian's Jill Dickson claimed preseason player of the year honors.

UT Tyler totaled 849 points and collected 39 of the possible 51 first-place votes in the poll. The Patriots went 62-5 overall and 40-4 in league play last season. They won a share of the league title and also claimed the LSC tournament crown. UT Tyler closed out its national championship season on a 24-1 run, including a 5-0 showing at the national finals. The Patriots, which led the league in pitching (1.33 ERA) and tied for tops in fielding (.978) last year, enter the season unanimously ranked No. 1 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.

West Texas A&M was picked as the runner-up with 817 points and eight first-place votes. The Lady Buffs went 56-8 overall and 40-4 in LSC play en route to a share of their second consecutive and sixth overall conference title. They led the league with a .362 average and 98 home runs and reached the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional. WT, which won national titles in 2021 and 2014, is ranked No. 8 in the preseason national poll.

Angelo State was the third-place selection with 753 points and two first-place votes. The Rambelles went 47-14 overall and 34-10 in conference last year. They reached the NCAA regional and tied for the league lead in fielding percentage. ASU won the national title in 2004 and has collected a league-high eight conference championships. The Rambelles are ranked No. 13 in the preseason national poll.

Oklahoma Christian was selected in the fourth spot with 665 points and one first-place vote. The Eagles went 38-21 overall and 29-15 in conference play last season. They reached the NCAA regional. OC is ranked No. 25 in the preseason national poll.

Lubbock Christian was predicted to finish fifth with 665 points and the final first-place vote. The Lady Chaps went 36-22 overall and 26-18 in LSC play. They reached the NCAA regional.

Cameron was the sixth-place selection with 551 points. Eastern New Mexico (537 points) was seventh, followed by St. Edward's (489 points) and St. Mary's (445 points) to round out what would be the protentional nine teams to qualify for the LSC Championship.

Two-time league champion Texas A&M-Kingsville (416 points) was predicted to finish 10th, followed by Texas A&M International (351 points), 2013 LSC champion Texas Woman's (322 points), two-time conference champion Midwestern State (285 points) and Western New Mexico (219 points). New league member UT Dallas (188 points), Sul Ross State (101 points) and UT Permian Basin (100 points) rounded out the LSC's 17 softball teams.

Trotter was named LSC Preseason Player of the Year. The senior outfielder from Lubbock, Texas hit .326 with 14 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 48 RBI. She also scored 54 runs, walked 33 times and stole 14 bases. Trotter was a LSC Softball Golden Glove winner in the outfield.

Dickson was named LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The senior right-hander from Edmond, Okla. went 21-11 with a 3.08 ERA and five shutouts. Dickson struck out 189 batters – a league best 54 looking – over 168 1/3 innings of work. Opponents hit just .212 off her.

Both Trotter and Dickson were All-LSC First Team selections in 2025.

Additionally, 34 players – 17 position players and 17 pitchers including Trotter and Dickson – were selected for the LSC Softball Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.

The Mustangs open their season in Mansfield, Texas, at the Lone Star D2 College Classic against Central Missouri on Jan. 30 and will also face Rockhurst, Maryville, MSU Denver and Augustana (S.D.) at the event that runs through Feb. 1.