LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Make it seven consecutive weeks at the top of the USA Today/NFCA Division I softball poll for Oklahoma (39-3) as the Sooners picked up 27 of 31 possible first place votes to remain at No. 1.
Despite managing a high-profile series win at then-No. 6 Texas (6-1, 2-4, 5-3), the Crimson & Cream lost its unanimous status in the top spot as four voters chose to put their support for No. 1 behind second-rated Florida (45-5).
The Gators were 4-0 last week and trail OU by 31 total points after topping Florida State (8-0 in 5 inn.) and sweeping a three-game set from upstart Longwood (5-1, 9-5, 8-0 in 6 inn.).
Winners of 19 consecutive contests, Tennessee (42-6) made the largest positive move in this week’s Top 10 as the Lady Vols leapt two positions from fifth to third after defeating Appalachian State (9-0 in 5 inn.) and posting three consecutive run-rule triumphs during a Southeastern Conference set at Ole Miss (12-4 in 5 inn., 15-5 in 5 inn., 9-1 in 5 inn.).
A 3-1 weekly effort with a victory over Southern Miss (11-0 in 5 inn.) and a series win over Mississippi State (2-3, 11-3 in 5 inn., 9-8) helped Alabama (40-7) hold steady at No. 4. Meanwhile, Arizona State (39-7) plummeted three positions from second to fifth after dropping its Pac-12 Conference set at Utah, two games-to-one (4-5 in 8 inn., 5-6, 6-4).
No. 6 Oregon (38-6) and No. 7 Texas (39-6) swamped slots from the previous rankings, while Louisville (42-6) remained at eighth after going 5-0 by taking both ends of a doubleheader from Pittsburgh (8-5, 15-0 in 5 inn.) and sweeping a road league series at Villanova (1-0, 5-4, 8-1). Michigan (39-7), currently riding a 21-game win streak, and California (35-9) held firm at ninth and 10th, respectively.
No new teams entered into this week’s ranking for the first time since back in the March 12th release.
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 31 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.
To view the complete USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll, please visit this link.
