LACEY, Wash. – Returning a young but talented core, led by All-Region selection Britney Patrick, the Saints were placed fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
 
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Hosting the 2022 GNAC Championships, the Saints look for a chance to win their first conference championship since 2013 on their home field.
 
Western Washington, who is the defending conference champions, narrowly edged out Northwest Nazarene, the defending regular season champions for the top spot. The Vikings finished with four first place votes, and 46 total points. Northwest Nazarene drew three first place votes, and 44 total points.
 
Western Oregon (24 points), Saint Martin's (22) and Simon Fraser (21) make up the middle of the pack, followed by Montana State Billings (20) and Central Washington (19). Third place and seventh place were separated by only five points.
 
The Saints will be led by sophomore standout Patrick, who was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year last season, along with a second team All-Region selection. The third basemen led the team with a .328 batting average, along with 31 runs scored with five home runs, and 25 RBIs. She was also perfect on the basepaths, swiping nine bags on nine attempts.
 
All-Conference honorable mention shortstop Destiny Conerly returns to the field after hitting .235 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. Along with Conerly, the Saints bring back outfielder Olivia Schmidt, .315 with one home run, and 14 RBIs, and Kylee Vanderbout, .281 with three home runs, and a team-leading 29 RBIs. Other notable returners include outfielders Megan Convery and Jaeden Ells, infielder Malia Pinder, catcher Devyn Connolly, and utilities Vanessa Smoke and Lexi Carlos.
 
Inside the circle, the Saints feature two of the best young pitchers in all the GNAC in sophomores Abby Runyon, and Tia Ridings. Runyon, a second team All-Conference selection last season, led the Saints with a 4.05 ERA, 11-8 W/L, and 15 complete games. Over 124.1 innings, Runyon struck out 68 batters, and tossed three shutouts.
 
Ridings broke out on the scene in her freshman campaign before an injury sidelined her for most of the season. However, in 31 innings, Ridings was good for a 2.03 ERA with a 4-0 W/L, and 24 strikeouts. In seven appearances, four starts, the lefty tossed four complete games, and two shutouts.
 
Saint Martin's brings in 10 new players to the squad, including nine freshman and one transfer. Natalie Zender is the lone transfer from Skagit Valley College. Behind the plate, Kekai Schultz from Ridgefield, Washington joins the mix, and in the infield is Destiny Salamanca from Norwalk, California, and Sophia Ruiz from Murrieta, California. New in the outfield is Marisol Bergstrom from Port Orchard, Washington, and Kaleena Yra from Vallejo, California, along with utility players Janell Williams from Snohomish, Washington, and Shay Lopes from Waianae, Hawaii. In the circle, SMU added Kylie Parsons from Pendleton, Oregon, and Chloe Leverington from Forks, Washington.