Mary Baldwin was picked ninth in the USA South Athletic Conference East Division preseason softball poll released Wednesday.

The Fighting Squirrels finished with a 5-17 overall record and a 1-7 record in conference play in 2021.

Four teams received first-place votes with Pfeiffer receiving six of the 10 No. 1 votes to top the poll. Greensboro, with one first-place nod, was second followed by North Carolina Wesleyan in third with two top votes and Averett in fourth with the remaining first-place ballot.

William Peace was fifth, followed by Meredith, Methodist, Salem, Mary Baldwin and Southen Virginia.

Mary Baldwin opens its 2022 season on Feb. 26 when the Squirrels host Lynchburg.