INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy softball team was picked second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll behind Robert Morris. The Jags finished third in the standings last season with a 15-9 mark in conference play.
 
Head coach Elisabeth Beirne enters her tenth season leading the Jags, following a 22-27 season. The Jags will look to build on their momentum this season as they return the majority on their starting lineup.
 
Headlining the returning group is Horizon League Player of the Year, Molly Kable. The senior from New London, Wisconsin led the Jags at the plate with a .421 batting average (64-for-152) starting all 49 games. She collected 48 RBI, 14 doubles, nine home runs and 36 runs. Callie Dickerson, a Horizon League All-Freshman Team honoree, also returns for the Jags. Dickerson played in 48 games with a .298 batting average with 29 RBI and 12 doubles. She also led the Jags in ERA with a 4.45 mark in 22 appearances.
 
On the rubber for the Jags, senior Alexa Holman led the Jags in the strikeout category with 50 K's while collecting seven wins on the season. Clara Phariss also tallied seven wins with 27 strikeouts.
 
With 12 freshman on last year's roster, the Jags are still a young squad with nine sophomores and eight freshman but they also bring back upperclassman experience with Kable, Holman, Kinsey Pfeiffer, Kennedy Cowan and Tori Candler.
 
IU Indy kicks on their season this weekend when they travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina for the Terrier Invite at Wofford. The Jags will play five games total, with games against Kent State, Monmouth and Wofford. Opening day for the Jags is Friday, February 6 with a 10:00 AM game against Kent State.
 
2026 Under Armour #HLSB Preseason Poll
Pl.       Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.         RMU (6) – 48
2.         IU Indianapolis – 33
T3.       Green Bay – 31
T3.       Northern Kentucky – 31
5.         Youngstown State – 19
6.         Oakland – 18
7.         Detroit Mercy (1) – 16