Ashland Softball Slotted At No. 6 In 2026 Great Midwest Preseason Poll

In the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference softball preseason coaches poll, released on Thursday (Jan. 22) afternoon, Ashland University was placed in the No. 6 spot in the 13-team league.
 
The Eagles garnered 103 voting points. Preseason favorite Tiffin picked up 11 first-place votes and 156 voting points, followed by Findlay (one first-place vote, 137 voting points) and Hillsdale (one first-place vote, 133 voting points).
 
Ashland returns all three of its all-conference performers from last spring – senior first-team second baseman Danielle Robbins (.331 batting average, 35 runs scored, three doubles, nine RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 2025), redshirt senior first-team designated player/pitcher Cassidy Shaffer (.388 average, 19 runs scored, five doubles, one home run, 38 RBIs; 6-2 record and a 3.02 earned-run average), and junior second-team catcher Delaney Keith (.392 average, 12 runs scored, nine doubles, one home run and 24 RBIs).
 
In 2025, the Eagles finished at 23-23 overall and 13-11 in the Great Midwest – qualifying for the conference tournament.
 
The 2026 campaign will begin with four games at the New Smyrna (Tenn.) Tournament on Feb. 6-7.
  1. Tiffin (11 first-place votes) - 156
2. Findlay (1 first-place votes) - 137
3. Hillsdale (1 first-place votes) - 133
4. Ohio Dominican - 122
5. Northwood - 119
6. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY - 103
7. Cedarville - 94
8. Malone - 76
9. Walsh - 64
10. Thomas More - 63
11. Ursuline - 50
12. Kentucky Wesleyan - 39
13. Lake Erie - 27