The Millsaps College softball team was ranked third in the 2026 Southern Athletic Association preseason poll, announced Tuesday. The Majors, coming off their best season since 2017, finished second in both the regular season and conference tournament last year, according to the poll results.
They received 30 points in this year’s voting, trailing conference favorite Berry College, which secured 41 points and five first-place votes. Trinity University, a newcomer to the SAA, earned two first-place nods and 38 points, placing them second in the poll.
Last season’s success was driven by a mix of experienced players and new talent. Millsaps lost just one All-SAA member from last year, second baseman Kinsey Smith, but retained five other All-SAA players, including rookie of the year Hailey Peterson. The team also added nine new players, six of whom are pitchers, enhancing their depth on the mound.
Head coach Jeff Gillespie and assistant coach Lindsey Coffey enter their second season with high expectations after a successful first year under new leadership. The team aims to improve upon last year’s performance and compete for the SAA championship, with only two new opponents, Trinity and Southwestern University, joining the conference this season.
The 2026 preseason poll results are Berry, 41 points; Trinity, 38; Millsaps, 30; Rhodes, 28; Southwestern, 23; Sewanee, 17; and Centre, 12. Fans can follow the team’s progress on X, Instagram, Facebook, or at gomajors.com. Millsaps College, founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, is recognized for academic excellence and ranked among top value colleges by several publications.
