LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Florida (16-0) remained perfect and maintained its possession of top spot in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, announced Tuesday by the Association.

Hosting the Aquafina Invitational, the Gators (photo courtesy of Gatorzone.com) rolled their way to a 5-0 mark, outscoring their opponents, 52-8 with victories over Liberty (11-0), Illinois State (4-1), previously undefeated Kansas (7-1) and Mercer (20-3 / 10-3) twice. For the second straight week they received 26 first place votes and totaled 698 votes to extend their lead over Oregon to 37 points.

Following an idle week, the Ducks (14-1 / 661) were busy taking part in a 5-day, nine-game road swing through the Lone Star State. They opened with a doubleheader sweep at Houston (2-0 / 10-5) followed by a pair of victories in College Station over Sam Houston State (14-4) and then-No. 23 and host Texas A&M (5-1). Oregon’s trip concluded at the Baylor Invitational where it went 4-1, suffering its first loss of the season as it split with the hosts (4-1 / 1-2) and churned out wins against Abilene Christian (8-0), Tulsa (4-2) and North Texas (9-0).

Since dropping its opening game of the season to No. 1 Florida, Michigan (13-1), continues its climb up the poll after another impressive undefeated tournament. The Wolverines, for the second straight weekend, knocked off a top-10 opponent on the road when it took a pair from then-No. 3 Alabama (8-2 / 4-1) in Rhoads Stadium. Michigan also dispersed of Lipscomb twice and James Madison by a combined score of 30-2 as it extended its winning streak to 13 games.

The Crimson Tide (13-3) dropped a spot to No. 4 after falling to the then-No. 5 Wolverines at home and finishing their week, 2-2. Alabama rebounded from the opening losses at its Bama Bash with triumphs over James Madison (6-4) and Lipscomb (6-1).

Also making a steady climb up the poll is the second of our three undefeated squads, Louisiana Lafayette. The fifth-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns moved to 14-0, sweeping their opposition at the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational courtesy of three shutouts. Louisiana edged Iowa (4-3), blanked Hofstra twice (3-0 / 9-0), shut out Missouri State (5-0) and topped McNeese State (11-3).

Oklahoma fell two spots to No. 6 after a 3-2 showing at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Sooners (12-3) defeated San Diego State (10-1), then-No. 11 Kentucky (7-3) and Loyola Marymount (9-0), but fell in a couple of one-run games to then-No. 13 Arizona (4-5)  and No. 8 Georgia (5-6). 

In at No. 7 and making the biggest jump is undefeated LSU (16-0), which swept through its competition at the Mary Nutter to cap off a 6-0 week. Off to their best start in program history, the Tigers moved up seven spots after they defeated Louisiana Tech (7-5) on the road and posted wins over San Diego State (6-1), Cal State Fullerton (8-0), then-No. 13 Arizona (4-3), Nebraska (10-0) and Northwestern (10-0).

Rounding out the top-10 is Georgia (12-2), Baylor (12-2) and Kentucky (11-3). The Bulldogs and Wildcats went 2-2 and 5-1 at the Mary Nutter, respectively, while the Bears posted a 3-2 mark at their Baylor Invitational, which included a split with No. 2 Oregon (1-4 / 2-1).

There were no additions to the top-25 as the poll saw five programs stay put, while the rest shuffled around.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.  Current 2015 records are shown and first-place votes are in parentheses.

Poll

USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll – Feb. 24, 2015

Dropped out: None 

Others Receiving Votes: Kansas (26), South Carolina (25), Mississippi State (13), Virginia Tech (11), Florida Atlantic (5), Nebraska (4), James Madison (4), Tulsa (3), Hofstra (2), North Carolina State (2), Stanford (1), Cal State Fullerton (1), Fresno State (1).