BIG EAST head coaches have picked Butler to finish third in the conference's preseason poll.
 
The Bulldogs finished the 2017 campaign with an 11-9 BIG EAST record, finishing fourth in the league standings and earning a spot in the four-team BIG EAST Tournament for the third consecutive season.
 
Butler returns 14 letterwinners, including All-BIG EAST second team selections Kaitlin Doud and Jenna Foreman.
 
St. John's and DePaul split the eight first-place votes with St. John's earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 46 points compared to 45 for DePaul.
 
Coach Scott Hall and the Bulldogs open the 2018 campaign Feb. 9 with five games at an event hosted by Central Florida. BIG EAST play begins March 24 when Butler travels to Villanova. The BIG EAST Tournament is slated for May 11-12 in Rosemont, Ill.
 
2018 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. St. John's (4) - 46                         
2. DePaul (4) - 45                         
3. Butler - 34
4. Villanova - 29
5. Creighton – 23
6. Seton Hall - 22
7. Providence – 18
8. Georgetown - 7