BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) released its 2023 Softball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish on Wednesday with Bethune-Cookman picked to finish third in the Eastern Division. The announcement came from the league office in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Bethune-Cookman finished the 2022 season atop the SWAC Eastern Division with a 17-7 conference record, while ending the campaign with a 24-26 overall record.
 
Alabama State was predicted to finish atop the Eastern Division, followed by Jackson State in second. After BCU in third were Florida A&M, Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State to round out that half of the conference, respectively. ASU had three (3) first place votes alongside Jackson State with three. Bethune-Cookman received two first place votes, in addition to FAMU and AAMU with two each.
 
In the Western Division, Prairie View A&M was predicted to finish first, garnering seven (7) first place votes in the process. Texas Southern received three (3) first place votes and was predicted to finish second, followed in order by Southern, Grambling State, Alcorn and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Southern and Grambling State each collected a first place vote.
 
Under the direction of Head Coach Laura Watten, set to begin her 17th season at the helm in Daytona Beach, BCU begins the 2023 season at the FAU Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida on Friday, Feb. 10. In the weekend event, the Cats take on teams from Iowa, Mississippi State, Stony Brook, Loyola and host Florida Atlantic.
 
The 2023 SWAC Softball Tournament will be held May 9-12 (May 13 if necessary) at the Gulfport Sportsplex located in Gulfport, Mississippi.
 
The league is scheduled to announce the 2023 SWAC Softball Preseason Team and Individual Awards selections on Thursday, Feb. 2.
 
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About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women's competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.