LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the eighth week this season and the 11th consecutive week overall, unbeaten two-time defending national champion Tufts University is the unanimous choice atop the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 softball rankings.

Tufts (16-0) swept Babson in its only games last week to extend its win streak to 18 games. The Jumbos have now won 49 of their last 50 and have received all eight first-place votes going back to last April. They have been ranked No. 1 in 12 of the last 15 polls and 17 of the last 21.

Texas-Tyler (25-1) suffered its first loss of the season to No. 3 East Texas Baptist (17-2), but took two of three in that series and had a 5-1 week overall to wrest the No. 2 spot from last year’s Division III runner-up Salisbury (20-3). The Sea Gulls were swept by new No. 15 Christopher Newport (19-6) in a 2-2 week to drop to sixth after holding at least a share of the No. 2 spot for the past nine weeks, going back to May 30, 2014.

The Captains’ two wins over Salisbury were part of a 4-0 week and eight-game win streak that moved them up six places in the poll. Luther (25-1) lost its first game on Monday against Wisconsin-Stevens Point, while Rowan (25-0) remained unbeaten to each continue their climb up the rankings, to fourth and fifth, respectively.

Virginia Wesleyan (22-4) added four more wins to go from 11th to sixth, while No. 13 Central (23-6) extended its win streak to seven games to gain another three places this week.

Texas Lutheran (26-4) — which has won 23 straight games — debuts appropriately in the No. 23 spot, while Birmingham-Southern (22-6-1) — the winner of 14 of its last 15 — picked up its first votes of the season. Lake Forest (18-4) returns in the receiving votes category following an one-week hiatus on the strength of a 4-0 week and eight-game win streak.

Four schools — No. 10 North Central (15-1), No. 11 Wisconsin-Whitewater (15-3), No. 18 Augustana (18-7-1) and No. 19 Rochester (10-7) — picked up two spots apiece this week.

Simpson (22-6) tumbled 12 places to No. 22 following an 1-3 week, while last week’s No. 24 Kean (12-5), and No. 25 schools George Fox (24-8) and The College of New Jersey (12-6) dropped out of the rankings entirely.

The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Current records are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.

For the complete poll, click HERE