Courtesy of Dusty Sloan, Ashland Interim Sports Information Director
ASHLAND, Ohio -- Ashland University's softball team has cracked the Top 25 for the first time in 2015, as the Eagles are ranked No. 24 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, released Wednesday (March 25) morning.
The Eagles are 17-1, and sport the best winning percentage in Division II at .944. Ashland is on a 12-game winning streak, its best since another 12-gamer from March 26-April 15, 2011.
AU is off to its best start after 18 games since starting 17-1 in 1998 – a season which ended with a 53-6 mark.
Ashland is the only Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team in the Top 25.
The Eagles will return to the field for two key GLIAC doubleheaders at Brookside Park this weekend against Saginaw Valley State (March 28, noon) and Wayne State (March 29, noon).
NFCA Division II Softball Coaches' Poll – March 25, 2015
Rank |
Team |
2015 Record |
Totals |
Prev. Rank |
1 |
Valdosta State |
29-2 |
395 |
2 |
2 |
West Texas A&M |
23-4 |
388 |
1 |
3 |
Missouri-St. Louis |
21-3 |
367 |
4 |
4 |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
23-6 |
344 |
3 |
5 |
Dixie State |
29-5 |
324 |
5 |
6 |
Angelo State |
22-5-1 |
320 |
6 |
7 |
Alabama-Huntsville |
21-5 |
312 |
7 |
8 |
Georgia College |
26-4 |
277 |
10 |
9 |
North Georgia |
25-5 |
270 |
8 |
10 |
St. Mary's (Texas) |
22-7 |
257 |
9 |
11 |
Emporia State |
22-7 |
235 |
11 |
12 |
Indianapolis |
18-6 |
209 |
12 |
13 |
California Baptist |
30-6 |
202 |
13 |
14 |
Rollins |
24-4 |
165 |
18 |
15 |
North Alabama |
23-5 |
161 |
15 |
16 |
Southern Indiana |
19-3 |
134 |
17 |
17 |
Missouri Western |
21-9 |
117 |
NR |
18 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
19-5 |
91 |
24 |
19 |
Central Oklahoma |
21-8 |
75 |
16 |
19 |
Southern New Hampshire |
11-3 |
75 |
RV |
21 |
Sonoma State |
22-7 |
67 |
20 |
22 |
California (Pa.) |
8-4 |
61 |
23 |
23 |
Anderson |
22-6 |
54 |
RV |
24 |
Ashland |
15-1 |
47 |
RV |
25 |
Cameron |
24-3 |
39 |
RV |
Dropped Out: No. 14 Winona State (18-7), No. 19 LIU Post (4-6), No. 21 West Chester (12-6), No. 22 Caldwell (3-8) and No. 25 Metro State (20-8).
New to Poll: No. 17 Missouri Western, t-No. 19 Southern New Hampshire, No. 23 Anderson, No. 24 Ashland, No. 25 Cameron.
Others Receiving Votes: West Virginia Wesleyan (27), Caldwell (21), Humboldt State (21), Arkansas Tech (18), LIU Post (14), Armstrong State (12), Winona State (10), Eckerd (6), Henderson State (5), Metro State (2), West Chester (1).