MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Great American Conference released its coaches poll on Wednesday afternoon and UAM was voted to finish in eighth, receiving 90 total points in the preseason ranking.
On top of the preseason favorites was Southern Arkansas, which received 115 total points and seven of the dozen first-place votes, tabbed the league’s favorite for the 2022 season. Arkansas Tech, which was voted to finish in second, received 108 total points and three first-place votes. Southeastern Oklahoma State just missed second, tallying 105 total points, while receiving the remaining first-place votes.
UAM was 15-23 overall and 14-19 in conference play before being eliminated by Southern Arkansas in the first round of the 2021 GAC Tournament.
Head coach Kyle Lem returns for his 3rd season leading the Blossoms. Kelsey Rhine begins her first year as the assistant coach for UAM.
The Blossoms bring back two of their top hitters from a squad that scored 166 runs in 38 games of the 2021 season. Bailey Camp and Madison Morrissey paced the offense hitting at least .313 with 21 hits or more when the season came to end in the first round of the conference tournament. Bailey Camp led the Blossoms with a .354 average and a .432 on-base percentage.
UAM also brings back its top two starting pitchers – Alexis Pevehouse and Jamie Franks. Pevehouse posted a 5-4 record with a 4.47 ERA and 37 strike outs through 54 innings pitched. Franks had a team leading 48 strike outs through 86 innings.
The Blossoms open the 2022 season as they travel to Ouachita Baptist to face Cameron University in their Mike McGhee/Ronnie Hawkins Classic Tournament opener, Fed. 5.
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