COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The San Diego State softball team has been picked to finish second in the Mountain West in a preseason poll voted on by the league's nine head coaches, the conference announced Thursday. The Aztecs have won a MW-record eight regular-season titles entering the 2023 season.
The Aztecs received 60 votes and four first-place votes, and finished just one point behind projected league winners Boise State who earned 61 votes and five first-place votes. UNLV finished third in the preseason voting on 48 points, while Colorado State was picked fourth with 36 points. Fresno State, Nevada and San Jose State finished fifth tied on 25 points. Rounding out the poll was New Mexico (23) in eighth and Utah State (21) in ninth.
Last year, San Diego State finished the 2022 season with a 39-16 record (.709), the second-best record in program history, before falling to No. 8/5 Arizona State, 8-4, in the NCAA Tempe Regional final. San Diego State also captured its league-record eighth MW title with a 20-4 conference record.
The Aztecs begin their 2023 season under second-year head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz with the SDSU season kickoff Feb. 9-12. San Diego State will open the season with two games on Thursday (vs. CSUN and Arizona State), then play Notre Dame on Friday, Memphis on Saturday, and Northern Illinois on Sunday the 12th to wrap up the tournament.
2023 MW Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Pl. Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Boise State (5) 61
2. San Diego State (4) 60
3. UNLV 48
4. Colorado State 36
5. Fresno State 25
Nevada 25
San José State 25
8. New Mexico 23
9. Utah State 21