BABSON PARK, Mass.—The Babson College softball team was picked to finish third when the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) released its preseason coaches' poll on Thursday morning.
Three-time defending tournament champion MIT received seven of the 11 first-place votes and finished first in the poll. Springfield, which tied Babson for second place in the regular season last spring, received three top votes and finished second in the poll while defending tournament runner-up Babson finished third. WPI received the final first-place vote and ended up fourth in the poll, and Wheaton rounded out the top five in the 11-team ledger.
Led by second-year head coach
Tori Roche, the Beavers return seven starters and 14 veterans from last year's squad, including first team All-Region and All-NEWMAC outfielder
Sophia Pak. The Green and White finished with a 26-15 overall record and 14-6 conference mark last spring and won two of their first three NEWMAC tournament games before falling to MIT in final.
The Beavers open the 2026 campaign on their annual spring break to The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, beginning with Dominican (Ill.) and Wesleyan on March 14.
2026 NEWMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
School (first-place votes) |
| 1 |
MIT (7) |
95 |
| 2 |
Springfield (3) |
90 |
| 3 |
Babson |
77 |
| 4 |
WPI (1) |
70 |
| 5 |
Wheaton |
68 |
| 6 |
Coast Guard |
52 |
| 7 |
Wellesley |
51 |
| 8 |
Emerson |
36 |
| 9 |
Clark |
24 |
| 10 |
Salve Regina |
22 |
| 11 |
Smith |
20 |
