LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite suffering its first loss of 2023, Rogers State remained the unanimous No. 1 choice in 2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. Cal State San Marcos and Southern Arkansas joined the top 10, while Nova Southeastern and Wilmington appear in the top 25.
The Hillcats (9-1) picked up three more wins last week, including a 3-2 win over new-No. 7 Southern Arkansas. They also topped Southeastern Oklahoma State 15-2) and Southwestern Oklahoma, before dropping their first game of the season on a walk-off to Southern Nazarene.
UT Tyler and North Georgia held their positions at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while idle Tampa moved up to No. 4 and Seton Hill to No. 5. The Patriots (10-1) opened Lone Star Conference play with a impressive road sweep of then-No. 8 Lubbock Christian (1-0, 12-4, 7-5), snapping the Lady Chaps’ 10-game win streak.
The NightHawks (10-1) captured six wins at the friendly confines of “The Hill” last week to extend their win streak to nine games. Of those wins, UNG scored a total of 52 runs and posted four shutouts, two against UNC Pembroke and one each against King and Lake Erie.
No. 5 Seton Hill opened 2023 with a doubleheader sweep at home versus Wheeling (7-0).
Making big jumps and climbing into the top-10 at No. 6 and No. 7 are Cal State San Marcos and Southern Arkansas. The Cougars (7-2) swept Cal Poly Humboldt (10-4, 2-0, 6-0, 3-2) in their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opening series, while the Lady Muleriders (12-2) edged then-No 6 Central Oklahoma 9-8 in Edmond, while also defeating Nebraska Kearny (6-5) and Fort Hays State (8-2).
Valdosta State moved up two spots to No. 8 after taking two-of-three from Mississippi College in its Gulf South Conference series opener. Lubbock Christian (10-4) and Central Oklahoma (8-3) round out the top 10.
Coming off a three-game sweep at Florida Tech (5-2, 7-6, 11-3), Nova Southeastern makes its first appearance in the poll, while idle Wilmington is back in at No. 25.
The 2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee. The committee consists of 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA’s eight regions. Records reflect games played through Jan. 19, 2023.
2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
February 21 (Week 2)
|
Rank |
School |
Points |
2023 Record |
Previous Ranking |
|
1 |
Rogers State (16) |
400 |
9-1 |
1 |
|
2 |
UT Tyler |
384 |
10-1 |
2 |
|
3 |
North Georgia |
368 |
10-1 |
3 |
|
4 |
Tampa |
351 |
5-0 |
5 |
|
5 |
Seton Hill |
303 |
2-0 |
7 |
|
6 |
Cal State San Marcos |
297 |
7-2 |
13 |
|
7 |
Southern Arkansas |
282 |
12-2 |
16 |
|
8 |
Valdosta State |
273 |
5-2 |
10 |
|
9 |
Lubbock Christian |
271 |
10-4 |
8 |
|
10 |
Central Oklahoma |
262 |
8-3 |
6 |
|
11 |
Adelphi |
254 |
3-1 |
9 |
|
12 |
Grand Valley State |
241 |
0-0 |
11 |
|
13 |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
218 |
8-5 |
4 |
|
14 |
Indianapolis |
199 |
8-2 |
14 |
|
15 |
Anderson |
190 |
12-4 |
12 |
|
16 |
Concordia |
140 |
10-4 |
17 |
|
17 |
UAH |
135 |
9-3 |
20 |
|
18 |
Lincoln Memorial |
129 |
14-4 |
15 |
|
19 |
Oklahoma Christian |
125 |
8-1 |
22 |
|
20 |
Washburn |
77 |
10-3 |
21 |
|
21 |
St. Mary's |
72 |
10-4 |
19 |
|
22 |
Sonoma State |
65 |
10-1 |
25 |
|
23 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
59 |
10-1 |
24 |
|
24 |
Nova Southeastern |
40 |
10-3 |
RV |
|
25 |
Wilmington |
23 |
0-0 |
RV |
New to Poll: No. 24 Nova Southeastern, No. 25 Wilmington
Dropped Out: No. 18 Kutztown, No. 23 Angelo State
Receiving Votes: Colorado Christian (20), Saint Leo (9), West Texas A&M( (8), Angelo State 1, Auburn Montgomery (1), Augustana (1), Wingate (1).
The 2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee. The committee consists of 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA’s eight regions.
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