The Mary Washington softball team was picked third in the Coast-to-Coast Preseason Poll on Thursday morning, per a release from the conference.

UMW opens the season starting a new chapter with new head coach Hannah Qualls, who takes the reins of the Eagles after the retirement of Dee Conway after 36 years at the helm.

UMW welcomes back four all-conference selections to the mix, including three-year all-C2C pitcher Caitlyn Burch, as well as shortstop Aminah Shakir, outfielder Nya Lloyd, and catcher/DP Emma Schieda. Burch finished 2023 with an 11-8 record, with 178 strikeouts and a 1.78 ERA in 122 innings. Shakir batted .293 with 23 runs scored, and Lloyd batted .283. Schieda led the team with a .387 average, with five home runs and 24 RBI. Others returning to the fold for the Eagles are infielders Bridget Laychak (.259), Shelby Presgrave (.273), catcher Erica Shoop (.325), and outfielders Brigid Ward and Rayna Lloyd. Samantha Stuart pitched to a 3.31 ERA last season as a freshman, and sophomore Taylor Hudson returns after missing last year with injury.

The Eagles open play on March 1 in Fredericksburg, Va. with a matchup against Washington College.