CHARLOTTE, N.C. - As Softball season continues brewing for the 2026 campaign, the Big South Conference has announced preseason rankings and preseason all-conference teams. Coming off back-to-back championship seasons, Upstate Softball was picked at number two behind regular-season champion, Radford. For Preseason All-Conference teams, Upstate Softball featured five players and a player of the year.
Head Coach, Chris Hawkins returns to the helm of the program for his 32nd season with an 1142-470-1 coaching record. As he continues to lead the charge, the all-star staff of assistant coaches, Bryan Pack, Tonya Medders and John Winters return for the new campaign as well. Following a 39-16 record (10-8 Big South), Upstate Softball returns 13 players from the championship core and 11 newcomers ahead of the 2026 season.
With a core of players who made their presence known during the 2025 championship season, Taliyah Thomas, Carson Shaw, Sophia Kardatzke, Maddie Drerup and Abby Polk were named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference team. As Thomas, Drerup and Shaw enter their respective senior year, they enter the campaign with much recognition and respect around the league. For Sophia Kardatzke and Abby Polk continuing their young careers with Upstate Softball, both players look to consistently make an impact each time they step on the field. While being named to the all-conference team, Taliyah Thomas adds another preseason honor being named the Player of the Year.
Big South Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason All-Conference Team: Taliyah Thomas
Coming off a career high type of season, Taliyah Thomas made 52 appearances while starting 53 games in the right field and had 177 at bats with 66 hits, earning herself a career-high with a .373 batting average. Thomas bolstered 14 doubles, three triples, two HRs, 32 RBI, 57 run scored, went 32-for-34 on stolen bases, and finished the season with 92 total bases. Thomas had a season-high with three hits on four different occasions and added a career-high of two doubles against Longwood University on April 26, 2025. Thomas also posted a career-high with a five-RBI Day against Charleston Southern on April 11, 2025. Defensively, Thomas finished the season with 72 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Following the impact made on the field, Taliyah Thomas was named First Team All-Big South, NFCA Third Team All Region and wrapped up the year being named the Statistical Champion for the toughest player to strike out in NCAA Division I during the 2025 season. As Thomas makes her return to the program for her senior season, she has the mindset to continue helping her team win and take it one game at a time as she adds Preseason accolades.
Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Carson Shaw
Coming into her senior season, Carson Shaw was a first team all-conference player during the 2025 season with career high numbers across the board. Shaw appeared and started in 55 games and had 175 at bats and 57 hits earning herself a career-high .326 batting average. Shaw followed by adding nine doubles, seven home runs, 51 RBIs, went 2-for-2 on stolen bases and finished with 87 total bases. On April 19, 2025, against Gardner-Webb, Shaw added a new career-high with four hits. This would not her only career high in a game as she had a five-RBI day against Radford on March 29, 2025. At first base, Shaw added 427 putouts with a .998 fielding percentage and 16 double plays turned. Being part of the 2025 Championship team, Carson Shaw played a key role in helping Upstate go back-to-back resulting in being named to the Big South All-Tournament Team. Shaw was also a one-time Big South Player of the Week winner on February 25, 2025. As Shaw makes her return for her senior season, she looks to continue her consistent play while being a vocal leader and leading by example with her play.
Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Maddie Drerup
The Senior from Fort Mill, South Carolina returns to the Spartans looking to lead the pitching staff with her experience and composure that can rub off on others when in the circle. Drerup returns for her senior season with championship experience and has shown that she can perform in big moments. Appearing in 29 games and making 15 starts, Drerup added 82 strikeouts, while having a 14-3 record. Maddie Drerup had eight complete games and had a season-high of seven strikeouts against Eastern Kentucky on February 22, 2025. Drerup had already proved she could go the distance when her number was called as she was named Big South Pitcher of the Week on March 4, 2025, where she struck 13 batters through three games with a 1.47 ERA. Going into the Big South Softball Championships in Clinton, South Carolina, Drerup was ready to prove that she could help bring another championship to the program. Drerup did not take long reminding the league what she capable of striking out four batters helping Upstate open the tournament with a hot start. Drerup followed with a start in the Championship game rematch against Winthrop where she earned her second win in the circle, resulting in the Spartans repeating as tournament champions. Following the game, Drerup was named to the Big South All-Tournament Team and ultimately named the Big South Tournament MVP. As Maddie Drerup returns to the circle for her senior season, she adds another preseason accolade and is prepared to return to the form that put the league on notice.
Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Abby Polk
The Junior from Winder, Georgia has been described by Head Coach, Chris Hawkins as a player who will "find a way to do everything right and make winning plays". Coming off a season named First Team All-Conference, made a jump during her sophomore season appearing and starting in 56 games with 23 being at second base and finishing the last 33 at shortstop. Polk added 149 at bats with 49 hits bolstered by a .329 batting average while adding six doubles and two triples. Polk also added 41 runs, 21 RBIs, and 59 total bases and went 27-29 for stolen bases, helping Upstate finish the season being ranked #6 in the NCAA with 152 stolen bases as a team. Polk added a season-high of three hits against NC A&T on February 23, 2025, followed by another season-high of two runs scored against Winthrop on May 10, 2025. Defensively, Polk had 72 putouts with a .963 fielding percentage followed by 10 double plays. Abby Polk looks to return for her junior season with another jump with more experience under her belt being part of the championship seasons and NCAA Regionals.
Big South Preseason All-Conference Team: Sophia Kardatzke
The Sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida makes her way to the Preseason All-Conference team after many accolades during her freshman season including being named a six-time freshman of the week, 2025 Big South Co-Freshman of the Year, 2025 Big South All-Freshman team, 2025 Big South First team all-conference and D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team. Kardatzke appeared and started in 55 games (51 as designated player and four in right field). With 184 at-bats, Kardatzke led the Spartans with a .391 batting average, 72 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, and 15 home runs. Kardatzke also had 58 runs scored, 22-fo-24 stolen bases and 134 total bases. Sophia Kardatzke made her presence known in the circle, adding depth during the 2025 season as her collegiate debut saw her strikeout 10 batters. On the season, she had 16 appearances and 11 starts while adding four complete games; 53 strikeouts and 58.0 innings pitched. As Sophia Kardatzke adds another accolade to her resume, she will continue to grow with the program and do whatever it takes to help her team win.
2026 BIG SOUTH SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Rk Team (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Points
1. Radford (5) 5 2 - - - - - 47
2. USC Upstate (1) 1 4 2 - - - - 41
3. Longwood (1) 1 - 2 1 3 - - 30
4. Winthrop - - 3 2 2 - - 29
5. Charleston Southern - - - 4 2 - 1 23
6. Gardner-Webb - - - - - 7 - 14
7. Presbyterian College - 1 - - - - 6 12
Note: points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 7 points, followed by 6 points for second-place, and so on.
