SEASON PREVIEW: UHSP 6th in AMC; Kimble and Roper Preseason All-Conf.

ST. LOUIS, MO - As the start of the 2026 college softball season approaches, the American Midwest Conference on Wednesday announced their Preseason Coaches' Poll and their list of Preseason All-Conference players. Coming off of a 12-26 season last year and going 5-17 in the AMC, the Eutectics were picked to finish sixth in the conference this year. UHSP received 44 points, eight points ahead of Hannibal-LaGrange and 12 points behind Stephens. Columbia took seven of the ten first-place votes and received 85 points to stand atop the preseason poll.

Alicia Kimble and Hallie Roper were named to the 24-player Preseason All-Conference list. Kimble led the Eutectics with a .390 average last year while Roper was second with a .381 average. Roper and Kimble were one-and-two in both homeruns (three and two) and RBI's (33 and 31).

2026 AMC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll

AMC Softball Preseason All-Conference

Elizabeth Stoufer, Central Baptist

Kinley Johnson, Central Baptist

Kori Truelove, Central Baptist

Taviah Bradley, Central Baptist

Abigail Zismer, Columbia

Cassidy Avery, Columbia

Ella Schouten, Columbia

Kennedy Schanuth, Columbia

Megan Graver, Columbia

Amelia Gassman, Cottey

Estelle Audette, Cottey

Halen Hoelzeman, Cottey

Makayla Sn, Cottey

Lilly Wessel, Crowley's Ridge

Alicia Kimble, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Hallie Roper, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Courtney Merrell, Mission

Apryl Zeno, Mission

Elise Kendrick, Stephens

Breann Thresher, Williams Baptist

Emberlin Caldwelll, Williams Baptist

Madyson Busselle, Williams Baptist

Morgan Garner, Williams Baptist

Kaylee Wolfe, Williams Baptist

Michelle Patrico prepares for her seventh year leading UHSP. Before the curtain goes up on the new season, we sat down for a Q&A with the Eutectics head coach.

Q: Your season last year (12-26, 5-17) was almost a carbon copy of the 2024 season (13-27, 5-13). Almost the same record, same number of conference wins. Did you see progress in areas that maybe the record didn't show?

A: We trended in the right direction for the majority of the offensive categories. Less strikeouts, more hits, more runs, more RBIs, more doubles, higher batting average. That is really good progress.

Q: Were you disappointed in that final record last year?

A: With the offensive numbers that increased, I do think we should have won more games.

Q: Freshman Alicia Kimble (.390) absolutely ripped the cover off the ball. From what you've seen from them in the run-up to this season, do you think she is capable of duplicating those numbers this year?

A: Kimble was a main contributor last year. It was really exciting to see a Freshmen put up the numbers that she did from the four spot in the lineup. The fall season and her off-season workouts should put her right back where she needs to be for the season. We are ready to watch her excel.

Q: Hallie Roper was a machine at the plate (.381, 3 HR, 33 RBI). She was second on the club in batting average and those other two numbers led the team. What makes her such a good hitter and how much to you need her to keep producing at the rate she did last year?

A: Roper has a really good sense of what small adjustment she needs to make within an at bat and has really good pitch recognition. Combine those attributes with her ability to stay calm and not over think a situation, she is a machine. No situation is too big or too small for her mindset. We look for her to be a mainstay in the heart of the order.

Q: Two years ago, Sydney Hinojosa was second on the team in hitting as a freshman with a .327 average. She returns this year after missing all of last season with an injury. How close is she to 100% and do you have any real idea of what you can expect to get from her this year?

A: We are looking forward to having Hinojosa back in the lineup. She still has some rehab to do, but she is as close to 100% that she can get after having had surgery over the summer. Her work ethic to get back this point is outstanding and we are hopeful that she can contribute like she did two years ago.

Q: Let's talk pitching. Emma Henley was the ace of the staff logging 111.1IP and leading the staff in ERA at 3.46. She accounted for 44.8% of all your innings thrown. Does the volume of innings that she is throwing concern you or are you comfortable with her usage?

A: The number of innings that Henley has thrown is not concerning. She has been prepped for this and she put in the work to make sure that she can be the arm that we rely on to throw a lot. Henley is ready to make her senior season her best one yet. 

Q: Of the rest of the pitchers used, only Trysten Murphy (54.2) and Talianna Joyner (38.2) threw a sample size of any consequence. Where are you at with your pitching staff? I got the sense that you were searching last year for someone to step up and give you some innings, but were never able to find that person. Do you have more depth this year and other girls that you're relying on this season to deliver some quality innings?

A: Murphy and Joyner both have a full season of college softball under their belt. They have a really good sense of what the demands are and how they can best contribute. I believe they are coming back this season with a vengeance to prove they put in the work to be better than last season. We are also likely to have middle relief pitchers and possibly a closer to round out more innings. Eva Kameoka and Mackenzie Nelson were our go-to pitchers to help us get out of jams last year, so we will look for them and Karlea Frey to step up in the tough spots.

Q: Are strikeouts anything you worry about? Your offense struck out 160 times (4^th fewest in AMC) while your pitching staff delivered 126 (also 4^th fewest in AMC). Do your pitchers need to find a way to register more strikeouts?

A: Offensive strikeouts are always a concern, but the numbers over the past couple of seasons has been trending in the right direction. I look for our strikeouts to keep dropping. Defensively, the pitching staff pitches a lot to contact, so their numbers aren't concerning. 

Q: Up-the-middle defense is key in your sport. You lose Kailey Samora in center field from a year ago. Who takes over the job in center field and how happy are you with your up-the-middle defense?

A: Samora is a big loss as a leader. We have several players that can step in and take over both vocally and physically. Time will tell who will best fit those roles. Middle infielders will need to step up and show who wants the spot. 

Q: On the defensive side, you were 10^th in the AMC last year in fielding percentage at .930. How much better do you need to be defensively this year?

A: This has been a big focus for me this off season. The bottom line is that the defense has to perform if our pitchers are making the pitches. 

Q: What does your current freshman/transfer class look like? Give me three or four girls that we don't know about yet that you will be counting on to contribute.

A: We had a really good recruiting season. Ryleigh Davidson is a junior transfer that can add some really good power numbers. Anna Lucas (pitcher/utility) and Averi Glosemeyer (catcher/utility) are two freshmen that should contribute in really good ways for us. 

Q: Every coach has goals to begin a new season. What are two or three of your goals coming into this year, either for individuals or as a team?

A: My goal is always to have a better record than we had last year. That is a good unit of measurement for me. If our numbers, both offensive and defensive, get better, I will be happy. The team is hungry and ready to fight some of the top opponents and ready to turn some heads.