Softball Ranked at No. 3/5 in National Polls
2/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala . - Alabama softball retained its top five ranking in the latest polls, placing third in the USA Today/NFCA poll and fifth in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
The Crimson Tide have been No. 3 in the USA Today/NFCA poll since the preseason but drop one spot in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll from No. 4 to No. 5. In the latter poll, a pair of big wins by Michigan over Florida State last weekend allowed the Wolverines to jump all the way from No. 7 to No. 4. A Kentucky loss to Kennesaw State dropped them out of the top 10 in the coaches' poll, allowing SEC rival Tennessee to slide into the top 10. Arizona is also making its first top 10 appearance of the season, moving into No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
All nine ranked SEC teams from the first two polls remain in the top 25 this week: Florida (1/1), Alabama (3/5), Kentucky (11/9), Georgia (8/7), Tennessee (10/13), LSU (14/15), Auburn (16/17), Missouri (18/18) and Texas A&M (23/22). South Carolina and Mississippi State are also receiving votes in both polls.
This past week, Alabama went 5-1, first defeating Samford in Birmingham on Wednesday before winning four of its five games at the Stanford Nike Invitational in Stanford, Calif. Alabama suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday against Stanford but rebounded Sunday as freshman Alexis Osorio threw a no-hitter in the 10-0 win over Pacific. For her outstanding play at the plate, junior Haylie McCleney was named the SEC Player of the Week. Alabama is 11-1 overall this year.
Next up, Alabama will play at Rhoads Stadium for the first time this season, hosting the Easton Bama Bash starting on Friday, Feb. 20. Alabama opens play on Friday facing fifth-ranked Michigan (4 p.m.) and James Madison (6 p.m.). The Tide will face the Wolverines (1:30 p.m.) and the Dukes (4 p.m.) again on Saturday before closing out the weekend on Sunday against Lipscomb (1:30 p.m.).
