JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps College softball team was picked to finish third in the 2026 SAA Softball Preseason Poll, which was announced on Tuesday.

The Majors, coming off of their best season since 2017, finished runner-up in both the regular season and conference championship in last season's SAA play. This year, they get a bit more respect from their SAA head coaches, with 30 points in this year's preseason voting.

Defending SAA champion Berry College secured the top spot with 41 points and five first-place votes. Conference newcomer Trinity University grabbed two first-place nods and 38 total points.

The Majors this year will have a nice mix of veteran returners and eager necomers as ten seasoned players will step back on the field with nine new faces. Millsaps only lost one All-SAA member from last year in second baseman Kinsey Smith, while they do keep five other All-SAA Team members, including SAA Rookie of the Year Hailey Peterson. Most notably, six of the nine new players for the Majors do most of their work on the mound, providing much more depth to the Major pitching staff.

Coach Jeff Gillespie and assistant coach Lindsey Coffey enter into their second year at Millsaps with higher-than-ever expectations. The Majors' incredible success last year was put together in just one year under the new regime, and improvement on that is what the Majors expect this upcoming season.

In their way will be two new opponents in Trinity and Southwestern University fresh from the SCAC, trying to make their mark on the SAA this season. The Majors, however, have their eyes on the prize with only one goal in mind, the SAA Championship.

2026 SAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Berry – 41 (5) 
2. Trinity – 38 (2) 
3. Millsaps – 30 
4. Rhodes – 28
5. Southwestern – 23
6. Sewanee – 17
7. Centre – 12


To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College softball program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.   
 
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.