WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State received the most first-place votes, but is picked to finish fourth when the Lone Star Conference released its annual preseason poll Thursday afternoon.
 
The Mustangs have won more games over the past two seasons than any other NCAA program including Divisions I, II and III after posting an LSC record 54 wins in each of the last two seasons.
 
MSU advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2011 advancing to the semifinal round.
 
The Mustangs return six starters led by a pair of All Americans in senior third baseman Mallory Mooney and junior center field Elena Bennett.
 
Mooney set program single season records with 15 homers and 70 RBIs while hitting .352 in 68 starts at the hot corner while she posted a stellar .963 fielding percentage.
 
Bennett used her speed to hit .414 with and also set a single season high of 39 stolen bases while scoring 58 runs. The Carrollton native committed just one error in center field while notching five outfield assists.
 
Also returning from an offensive unit that hit .332 and scored 5.7 runs a game last season is junior outfielder Courtney Bingham (.355, 3 HR, 44 RBI), sophomore catcher Kim Jerrick (.329, 11 HR, 45 RBI), senior outfielder Nicki Duff (.258, 35 runs, 11 stolen bases) and junior second baseman Carey Campbell (.247, 3 HR, 14 RBI).
 
Other returning letter winners include junior outfielder Megan Chartier (.380, 29 runs, 20 stolen bases), sophomore catcher Courtney Ford and sophomore outfielder Kallie Noble.
 
MSU received nine of the possible 26 first-place votes as submitted by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and selected media.
 
Angelo State (8 first-place votes, 232 votes) was picked to win the championship followed closely by Incarnate Word (2 first-place votes, 214 votes), West Texas A&M (7 first-place votes, 212 points) and MSU (9 first-place votes, 206 votes).
 
Rounding out the poll are Texas Woman's (142 votes), Abilene Christian (135), Tarleton State (102), Cameron (87), Texas A&M-Kingsville (68) and Eastern New Mexico (32).
 
TWU sophomore shortstop Bailey Vrazel (.423, 80 hits, 74 stolen bases) was named the preseason player of the year while Incarnate Word senior Briana Sanchez (21-11, 1.89 ERA, 267 strikeouts) was tabbed preseason pitcher of the year.
 
The overall LSC champion will be the team with the best winning percentage in regular season conference games, while the winner of the postseason tournament will receive the league's automatic qualification into the NCAA postseason.
 
Midwestern State opens the regular season at the Ouachita Baptist Tournament beginning with a doubleheader against the host Tigers on Feb. 3.
 
The Mustangs make their home debut in the Holiday Inn at the Falls Invitational against Abilene Christian on Feb. 17.
 

Rank	Team (1st votes)	Total
1	Angelo State (8)	232
2	Incarnate Word (2)	214
3	West Texas A&M (7)	212
4	Midwestern State (9)	206
5	Texas Woman's	142
6	Abilene Christian	135
7	Tarleton State	102
8	Cameron	87
9	Texas A&M-Kingsville	68
10	Eastern New Mexico	32