RICHARDSON, Texas - After coming in at No. 25 in the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Preseason Poll, Oklahoma Christian was selected to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference, as voted on by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.
The Eagles picked up one first-place vote while garnering 715 total points, finishing behind two-time defending national champion No. 1 UT Tyler, No. 8 West Texas A&M in second and No. 13 Angelo State in third. Lubbock Christian filed in just behind OC at fifth with one first-place nod and 665 total points.
In addition to the Eagles' preseason bid, senior pitcher
Jill Dickson was recognized as the conference's Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The 2025 First Team All-Conference selection enters 2026 third in program history with 500 career strikeouts.
Alongside Dickson is LSC Player to Watch
Marti Yaerger. As a true freshman in 2025, Yaerger earned a spot on the First Team after leading the squad with a .370 batting average and 68 hits - the most single-season hits by an Eagle since 2015 (Kendra Pierce, 70).
Of the six all-conference honorees OC had last spring, four of them return in Dickson, Yaerger,
Kadence Brewster and
Kallie Rupp, with Brewster and Rupp earning the Golden Glove award as the top defensive players in the conference along with Third Team nods.
Highlighting the new faces for Oklahoma Christian is sophomore transfer Danae King from Colorado Christian. As a true freshman, King was named First Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as a designated hitter. Alongside her among the new players to watch is true freshman right-handed pitcher
Ella Resendiz from Purcell, Okla. (
Purcell HS).
No. 25 Oklahoma Christian will begin the 2026 season in the Sunshine State, taking on defending national runner-up Tampa in a doubleheader Friday, Jan. 30 before meeting Eckerd Saturday, Jan. 31. The Eagles will open play inside Lawson Softball Complex at Tom Heath Field Friday, Feb. 6 with the UCO/OC Classic.
2026 LONE STAR CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
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| Rank |
Team |
First-Place Votes |
Total |
| 1 |
UT Tyler |
39 |
849 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M |
8 |
817 |
| 3 |
Angelo State |
2 |
753 |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Christian |
1 |
715 |
| 5 |
Lubbock Christian |
1 |
665 |
| 6 |
Cameron |
|
551 |
| 7 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
537 |
| 8 |
St. Edward's |
|
489 |
| 9 |
St. Mary's |
|
445 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
416 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M International |
|
351 |
| 12 |
Texas Woman's |
|
322 |
| 13 |
Midwestern State |
|
285 |
| 14 |
Western New Mexico |
|
219 |
| 15 |
UT Dallas |
|
188 |
| 16 |
Sul Ross State |
|
101 |
| 17 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
100 |
