OXFORD, Ohio -- Heading into its final season of River States Conference action in 2026 before the softball program at Shawnee State makes the transition to the NCAA Division II level, Kristen Bradshaw's group continues to earn respect as a top-contending group amongst its River States Conference foes, as the Bears were selected to finish fourth in the River States Conference Standings with 60 points and two first-place votes, as announced by the conference office Thursday morning.

In a tight race where each of the top four teams were separated by just 16 points, the Bears continue to hold serve right with the top group. Rio Grande, the two-time defending River States Conference Tournament Champions and last season's RSC Regular Season Champ, was picked to win the conference again, but the RedStorm's 76 points and five first-place votes are only five points ahead of second-place Oakland City, who carries 71 points and three first-place votes with it heading into the season.

Just ahead of the Bears sits Indiana-Southeast, who garnered 64 notches but no first-place votes -- compared to Shawnee State's 60 tallies and the aforementioned two first-place votes.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (48) edged Indiana-Columbus (46) for fifth place, with the latter program turning heads with its improvement down the stretch of the 2026 season.

Kentucky Christian (29 tallies), Midway (28 pulls), Brescia (15 tabs) and West Virginia Tech (13 notches) round out the poll in its entirety.

For the first time since accomplishing the feat in 2018 and 2019, the Shawnee State softball program posted back-to-back winning records as a program as Kristen Bradshaw's group continued to progress during the 2025 season.

As part of this progression, the softball program has now gone 63-29 over the last two seasons under Bradshaw's leadership -- and could very well be in store for a huge 2026.
 
From March 11 to April 17, the Shawnee State softball program proved to be tremendous as Bradshaw's group proceeded to win 21 games over a 27-game stretch over a five-week period over the middle third of the season.

During that stretch, Shawnee State scored seven or more runs in 12 games and allowed three runs or less in 14 contests. The Bears went 7-3 in games decided by three runs or less over that course of time and won eight contests by mercy rule in 2025.

This season's version of the Bears returns an elite crop of hitters and fielders -- including slap hitter Jenna Christopher, who is Shawnee State's all-time single-season stolen base leader, Sierra Dunnagan, who has hit over .400 in each of her first two seasons in a Shawnee State uniform while playing catcher and third base, and Emily Moore, a dynamic talent who brings plus athleticism and great range defensively. They are among a group of 16 returnees -- each of whom are highly regarded for their maturity and leadership skills off of the softball diamond.

A group of nine newcomers join the Bears for the 2026 season -- including six true freshmen and three additional players by way of transfer.

For more on the Shawnee State softball program, visit the Bears on X at https://x.com/ShawneeStateSB, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shawnee_statesb/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shawneestateSB.