Softball Maintains Rankings in Week 10 National Polls
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After two midweek victories and a weekend off from competition, Alabama maintained its rankings in the Week 10 national polls, placing in sixth in the USA Today/NFCA poll and seventh in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll for the second straight week.
Previously top ranked LSU fell two spots to No. 3 after a 2-2 week that included losses to Tennessee and Mississippi State. Oregon and Florida, previously ranked No. 2 and 3, each moved up as the Ducks regained the No. 1 spot for the second time in three weeks in the NFCA poll, while the Gators are atop the USA Softball poll for the first time in five weeks. The rest of the top 10 remains relatively unchanged, with Minnesota as the only newcomer in the USA Softball poll, switching places with Florida State at No. 10 as the Seminoles drop to No. 11.
The SEC has nine ranked teams in both polls, including four in the top 10: Florida (2/1), LSU (3/3), Alabama (6/7), Auburn (7/6), Georgia (11/12), Tennessee (12/13), Kentucky (14/16), Missouri (20/20) and Texas A&M (24/23). Mississippi State and South Carolina are each receiving votes outside the Top 25.
Last week, Alabama won a pair of shutout victories on the road over UAB, 10-0, and Middle Tennessee, 12-0, before a weekend off from competition. The Tide are now 31-9 overall and 10-5 in conference play, only two games behind SEC leader Auburn at 12-3 and one game behind Florida and LSU in second place at 11-4.
Up next, Alabama hosts a pair of midweek games, first facing UAB on Tuesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. before playing NC State on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network. This weekend, the Tide travels to play in-state rival No. 7/6 Auburn starting on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Friday and Saturday's games will be live on ESPNU.
