Tide Holds Down Top Spot in National Polls
2/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Alabama softball team held down its claim for the No. 1 ranking in both national softball polls after a perfect weekend at the Adidas Golden Panther Invitational in Miami. The 15-0 Tide won all five of its games to remain on top of the collegiate softball polls for the second consecutive week.
Alabama, who achieved the nation’s top ranking for the second time in program history in week two of the 2008 season, successfully defended its No. 1 ranking for the first time in program annals. The Tide earned the No. 1 spot in 2007, but lost to Tennessee the following weekend.
In the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, the Tide received 16 first-place votes, easily the most of any team. No. 2 Arizona State, third-ranked Texas A&M and No. 4 UCLA each received one first-place vote apiece. Northwestern is ranked fifth, followed by Tennessee, Florida, Stanford, Oklahoma and Arizona.
The USA Today/NFCA poll had Alabama with 27 first-place votes, with A&M and Arizona State receiving one each. Tennessee is fourth in the poll and Florida is fifth. Northwestern, UCLA, Arizona, LSU and Oklahoma round out the top 10.
The Tide returns to action on Friday when the team travels to Seattle to compete in the U of Washington Husky Softball Classic. Alabama faces Portland State on Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. (CT) before playing Nevada and Washington on Saturday, March 1.
