LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Off to a NCAA DI-record 36-0 start, Oklahoma continues its strong hold on the No. 1 spot in this week’s 2022 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Sooners, who picked up four run-rule victories last week, broke the previous record of 35-0 held by three other programs, the last being Oregon in 2017.
The record-setting victory came in style as Jordy Bahl and Nicole May combined on a no-hitter in a 21-0 triumph at Texas Tech, completing a three-game Big 12 sweep of the Red Raiders. Along with a 9-0 mid-week win over Tulsa, OU blanked its opposition 52-0 last week. Along with Oregon, the previous record holders were Canisius (1993) and UCLA (1999 & 2001).
Following an ACC-series win at then-No. 2 Florida State, Virginia Tech climbed one more spot to No. 2. It marked the second straight series win on the road against a nationally-ranked program from the Sunshine State. The Hokies (29-5) knocked off the Seminoles (37-4) in the first two games, including a wild 23-9 game two win, setting a single-game record for runs.
Alabama elevated to No. 3 with three Southeastern Conference (SEC) wins last week. After claiming an SEC series with a triumph over then-No. 15 Georgia on April 4, the Crimson Tide (33-5) opened with two league victories at then-No. 7 Florida.
Previously-mentioned Florida State dipped to No. 4 after a 2-2 week, which included a 10-3 victory over the Gators (30-9).
No. 5 UCLA also dropped two spots in the rankings after it was defeated in a Pac-12 series by Stanford, which makes its first top-25 appearance since April 1, 2014 (24th). Following a game-one extra-inning win by the Bruins (32-5), the newly-ranked Cardinal (26-10) twirled consecutive 1-0 shutouts to earn their first series win over UCLA since 2013. It also snapped the Bruins’ 25-game win streak and marked the first two times this season they were held without a run.
In the latter half of the top 10, No. 6 Oklahoma State (31-7) and No. 8 Kentucky (27-9) remained in their rankings after taking their respective conference series, while Arkansas (28-7) moved up three positions after it swept then-No. 17 Auburn. The Gators dipped to No. 9 and Northwestern fell one spot to No. 10.
Missouri dropped out of the poll for the first time since the first regular-season rankings of 2020.
The 2022 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through April 10.
2022 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
April 12 (Week 9)
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
2022 Record |
Prev. Ranking |
|
1 |
Oklahoma (32) |
800 |
36-0 |
1 |
|
2 |
Virginia Tech |
740 |
29-5 |
4 |
|
3 |
Alabama |
734 |
33-5 |
5 |
|
4 |
Florida State |
713 |
37-4 |
2 |
|
5 |
UCLA |
683 |
32-5 |
3 |
|
6 |
Oklahoma State |
621 |
31-7 |
6 |
|
7 |
Arkansas |
581 |
28-7 |
10 |
|
8 |
Kentucky |
560 |
27-9 |
8 |
|
9 |
Florida |
549 |
30-9 |
7 |
|
10 |
Northwestern |
517 |
27-6 |
9 |
|
11 |
Washington |
458 |
22-11 |
11 |
|
12 |
Duke |
456 |
32-5 |
13 |
|
13 |
Arizona State |
405 |
28-5 |
16 |
|
14 |
Georgia |
386 |
33-8 |
15 |
|
15 |
Tennessee |
381 |
26-12 |
12 |
|
16 |
Clemson |
310 |
30-10 |
18 |
|
17 |
Oregon |
260 |
24-11 |
14 |
|
18 |
Texas |
224 |
30-10-1 |
19 |
|
19 |
Auburn |
217 |
29-9 |
17 |
|
20 |
UCF |
168 |
34-10 |
23 |
|
21 |
LSU |
149 |
24-16 |
21 |
|
22 |
Michigan |
118 |
23-12 |
22 |
|
23 |
Notre Dame |
100 |
30-7 |
25 |
|
24 |
Stanford |
92 |
26-10 |
RV |
|
25 |
Arizona |
78 |
21-14 |
20 |
New to Poll: No. 24 Stanford
Dropped Out: No. 24 Missouri
Receiving Votes: Oregon State (38), Missouri (29), USC Upstate (17), Mississippi State (4), Nebraska (4), USF (4), Louisiana (2), San Diego State (2).
The 2022 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through April 10, 2022.
