With the softball season set to commence soon, on Thursday, the Horizon League announced the 2022 softball preseason poll for this season and the Colonials were placed fourth.

Softball season begins tomorrow and @OaklandSoftball has finished atop the 2022 #HLSB Preseason Poll!

🥎: https://t.co/IinLkDl4rM pic.twitter.com/oBBaFCuvbD

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) February 10, 2022

Led by fourth-year head coach Jexx Varner, the Colonials return seven starters from their 25-19 2021 campaign, including graduate senior outfielder Alaina York and senior catcher Erika Bell.

York started each of RMU’s 44 games last year, hitting .294 while with 22 runs, and six doubles, while Bell hit .304 on the season with three home runs and 19 RBIs.

Another returning starter is shortstop Charlotte Grover. Finishing second for the Colonials with 22 RBI and compiling 18 runs, five doubles, and four home runs. Making the Horizon League All-Freshman team last season, she too will be a key for the Colonials this season.

The Colonials open their 2022 season Friday, Feb. 11, with a doubleheader in Greensboro, N.C., against North Carolina A&T at 11:00 a.m. It marks the first of three games against the Aggies as part of the North Carolina A&T/Howard Round Robin at the Aggie Softball Complex.

The rest of the poll shapes out as follows:

1. Oakland (2) 82

2. Youngstown State (5) 81

3. UIC (2) 74

4. RMU 62

5. Green Bay 49

6. Northern Kentucky 39

7. IUPUI 32

8. Detroit Mercy 29

9. Cleveland State 25

10. Purdue Fort Wayne 22

Robert Morris looks to build on an impressive first season in the Horizon League and make back-to-back postseason conference tournaments.