SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo Softball was picked to finish third in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Coaches Preseason Poll, when the league announced the rankings on Tuesday, January 18.
 
The Lions are right behind rivals Tampa and Rollins, who were picked to finish first and second respectively. The Spartans were picked to win the conference with 96 points and six first place votes. The Tars of Rollins were picked second with 90 points and five first place votes after winning the conference in 2021. Saint Leo received 83 points coming in third in the poll, twenty more than the fourth place team, Nova Southeastern. 
 
Head Coach Erin Kinberger's squad finished in third place in the conference standings in 2021 with a 15-9 SSC record and an 18-12 overall record in the abbreviated campaign. The Lions will look to bounce back this year and capture the program's first conference title since 2017 and fourth overall. Kinberger enters her eighth season at the helm of the Lions with a 226-90 career record.
 
Rounding out the remaining SSC poll were Nova Southeastern in fourth (63 total points), Palm Beach Atlantic (60), Florida Tech (59), Embry-Riddle (48), Barry (37), Florida Southern (34), Eckerd (22), and Lynn (13). Saint Leo opens their season in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Friday, February 4 vs. Shorter University, beginning six games in three days in the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Lions return to Saint Leo for their home opener and SSC opener on Friday, February 18 to kickoff a three-game, two-day series with Florida Southern. 
 
For more information on the Saint Leo softball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube