NATCHITOCHES -- The Northwestern State softball was picked to finish sixth by its Southland Conference peers, the league announced Wednesday in its preseason poll.
 
League coaches and sports information directors voted on the poll.
 
The Lady Demons are coming off a season in which they went 28-25 and 14-13 in SLC play, good for a seventh-place finish.
 
NSU won an opening-round game in the SLC Tournament against Abilene Christian before falling to host McNeese and Southeastern.
 
Reigning regular-season champions Nicholls ran away with first place by receiving 18 of 24 first-place votes.
 
Tournament champion McNeese, who will be without a stellar class that includes four-time SLC Player of the Year Erika Piancastelli, finished second in the polling.
 
NSU begins its season Feb. 8 at the Texas Classic against Boise State and Texas.
 
Coaches and SIDs Poll (first place votes)

1.	Nicholls (18)	238
2.	McNeese (6)	224
3.	Central Arkansas	164
4.	Southeastern Louisiana	163
5.	Stephen F. Austin	158
6.	Northwestern State	156
7.	Sam Houston State	145
8.	Abilene Christian	119
9.	Lamar	80
10.	UIW	61
11.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	40
12.	Houston Baptist	36