CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two-time defending Mid-American Conference regular season champion Kent State was picked to win the MAC East Division in the conference's preseason coaches poll, the league announced Monday morning.
The Golden Flashes received five first-place votes in addition to three votes to win the conference tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to NCAA Regionals.
Ohio was picked to finish second in the East Division and had six first-place votes. The Bobcats were chosen as the favorite of the 2017 MAC Softball Championship with four votes.
Northern Illinois received eight first-place votes and was selected to successfully defend its MAC West crown.