CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After four consecutive years of being picked second in the Big South Preseason Poll, Upstate was selected first ahead of the upcoming 2023 season as the annual preseason softball poll and preseason honors were announced Wednesday afternoon by the Big South Conference. Along with the first place prediction, returning senior and 2022 Big South Player of the Year, Peyton Darnell, was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.