Tuesday, the Georgia Southern University softball team was picked as the Preseason Southern Conference Season Champions in the preseason coaches poll.

The Eagles were selected to repeat as the SoCon regular season champions, and junior pitcher Sarah Purvis was also named as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The poll consisted of votes from all of the Southern Conference softball head coaches.

GSU earned seven of the nine first place votes in the poll, putting it above the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, followed by the College of Charleston and Appalachian State University.

The Eagles’ first conference opponent this season, Elon University, finished fifth on the poll, followed by University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Western Carolina University, Samford University and Furman University.

Purvis is the fourth-straight pitcher from GSU to be named SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Purvis is the defending SoCon Pitcher of the Year and SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She also set a new school record with 23 victories and 253 strikeouts on the year.

The Eagles will open their 2013 season in the Eagle Round Robin on Feb 8 through the 10 at Eagle Field.