Softball Checks in at No. 2 in Both Preseason Polls
1/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 26, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team will open the 2010 season as the No. 2 ranked squad, according to the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls. The Crimson Tide received one first-place vote in the ESPN.com poll.
"This is a great tribute to our 13 letter winners returning from last spring," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "We appreciate the recognition but realize we have a long ways to go in many different facets of the game. I know it will give the team an extra boost during the remaining preseason practices."
After finishing the 2009 season with a 51-12 record and a NCAA National Championship title, the University of Washington begins the 2010 softball season with a No. 1 ranking. Alabama, with one first-place vote, starts out the 2010 campaign with a second-place ranking after finishing last season with a 54-11 record. No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Arizona, with one first-place vote, round out the top five in the ESPN.com preseason poll.
Alabama will play a total of 25 games against teams that are ranked in the top 25 in the preseason poll. The Crimson Tide will open the season against a Missouri team that is ranked as high as ninth in the ESPN.com poll.
Five Southeastern Conference teams were ranked in the top 25 as Alabama checked in as the highest ranked squad. Florida was ranked as high as No. 3 and Georgia checks in at No. 7 in the NFCA poll. LSU and Tennessee round out the ranked conference schools.
Alabama opens its 2010 campaign against Missouri with a three game series. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 13 and close out the series with a single contest on Feb. 14.
