Alabama Softball Climbs to Third in USA Softball Rankings
2/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama softball moved up two spots to No. 3 in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Top-25 on Tuesday.
“It’s a great day for everyone associated with Bama softball,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. “I still consider us a relative newcomer and underdog in the sport, so this ranking and recognition is very flattering. The 2001 team that started the year 27-0 truly deserved that ranking as it had three returning All-Americans. This year’s edition is very much a team: all 18 players contribute something to each game. We are looking forward to getting better every day in practice and at Samford tomorrow.”
The Crimson Tide have started the season 16-0 with three tournament championships and are one of just three undefeated teams remaining in the country, joining No. 1 Tennessee (15-0) and No. 7 Oklahoma (16-0). Alabama has never been ranked higher than third in the national rankings. They were No. 3 for one week last season in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. They also climbed to third in 2001 when they started the year 27-0.
Despite having three losses, Arizona moved up two spots to No. 2 after a pair of top-five victories against Texas A&M. Arizona State dropped to No. 4 after receiving its first loss of the season. Texas A&M also fell from the ranks of the undefeated with a pair of losses to Arizona to fall to fifth.
Alabama extends its streak to 64 straight weeks ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top-25. They have now been ranked in the top-10 for 20 consecutive weeks since May 17, 2005.
The Tide will square off against Samford tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in Birmingham and will host Seton Hall and Louisiana Lafayette in the Easton Spring Fling this weekend.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll
Feb. 27 ?? Week of Feb. 19-25
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
Points |
PVS |
|
1. |
|
15-0 |
500 |
1 |
|
2. |
|
11-3 |
454 |
4 |
|
3. |
|
16-0 |
445 |
5 |
|
4. |
|
17-1 |
444 |
3 |
|
5 |
|
13-2 |
437 |
2 |
|
6 |
LSU |
17-1 |
391 |
6 |
|
7. |
|
16-0 |
390 |
10 |
|
8. |
Stanford |
14-2 |
355 |
8 |
|
9. |
|
14-1 |
309 |
13 |
|
10. |
|
12-3 |
303 |
11 |
|
11. |
ULL |
18-2 |
296 |
9 |
|
12 |
Northwestern |
10-5 |
292 |
12 |
|
13 |
|
8-5 |
266 |
7 |
|
14. |
|
12-2 |
260 |
15 |
|
15. |
UCLA |
10-5 |
243 |
14 |
|
16. |
Baylor |
15-4 |
186 |
16 |
|
17. |
|
15-1 |
140 |
25 |
|
18. |
|
10-6 |
115 |
17 |
|
19. |
|
11-3 |
110 |
20 |
|
20. |
|
14-5 |
102 |
19 |
|
21. |
Georgia Tech |
12-2 |
86 |
RV |
|
22. |
|
12-3 |
79 |
RV |
|
23. |
|
11-6 |
62 |
18 |
|
24. |
|
12-2 |
54 |
RV |
|
25. |
