LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 2 Tampa closed the gap on No. 1 North Georgia as it sits just two points behind the top-ranked NightHawks (39-3) this week’s 2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. UNG, who had its 38-game win streak snapped by Columbus State, received nine first-place votes and 393 points, while the Spartans (29-2) collected the other seven first-place votes and 391 points.
The NightHawks opened the week with a pair of big road wins at No. 5 UAH (10-2, 4-0) to run that streak to 38 games. However, on April 9, Peach Belt foe Columbus State handed UNG its first defeat since Feb. 4 (second game of the season) and the first two home losses of 2023. The two wins by the Cougars (30-11) catapulted them into their first ranking of the season at No. 24.
Tampa recorded its fifth Sunshine State Conference sweep and sixth series win posting three victories over Florida Tech last week. The Spartans (29-2) have won eight straight and 14 of their last 15 games.
As with the top two, there was no change in the rankings through No. 8. No. 3 UT Tyler (34-4) was idle, while No. 4 Central Oklahoma (30-5), UAH (33-7) and No. 6 Indianapolis (36-4) all suffered defeats. No. 7 Grand Valley State (25-3) and No. 8 Rogers State (31-6) combined to go 9-0 in league play.
With then-No. 9 Concordia (33-9) falling out of the top 10, No. 9 Valdosta State and No. 10 Lubbock Christian (idle last week) each moved up one spot with the Blazers (32-6) posting a 4-1 week with their only defeat against then-No. 25 West Alabama.
Sonoma State (30-7) climbed four spots to No. 11 after a 5-1 week, followed by No. 12 Colorado Christian (41-3) which became the first NCAA program across all three divisions to hit the 40-win mark.
Joining No. 24 Columbus State as a 2023 first timer is Charleston (20-6), who enters tied with Wilmington for 25th.
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 April 9, 2023.
2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
April 11 (Week 9)
|
Rank |
School |
Points |
2023 Record |
Previous Ranking |
|
1 |
North Georgia (9) |
393 |
39-3 |
1 |
|
2 |
Tampa (7) |
391 |
29-2 |
2 |
|
3 |
UT Tyler |
368 |
34-4 |
3 |
|
4 |
Central Oklahoma |
348 |
30-5 |
4 |
|
5 |
UAH |
329 |
33-7 |
5 |
|
6 |
Indianapolis |
325 |
36-4 |
6 |
|
7 |
Grand Valley State |
305 |
25-3 |
7 |
|
8 |
Rogers State |
288 |
31-6 |
8 |
|
9 |
Valdosta State |
265 |
32-6 |
10 |
|
10 |
Lubbock Christian |
247 |
32-9 |
11 |
|
11 |
Sonoma State |
229 |
30-7 |
15 |
|
12 |
Colorado Christian |
227 |
41-3 |
12 |
|
13 |
Saint Leo |
197 |
34-6 |
13 |
|
14 |
West Texas A&M |
192 |
35-4 |
14 |
|
15 |
Concordia |
190 |
33-9 |
9 |
|
16 |
Wingate |
160 |
36-9 |
16 |
|
17 |
Adelphi |
133 |
23-6 |
18 |
|
18 |
Harding |
129 |
33-9 |
20 |
|
19 |
Mississippi College |
107 |
28-7 |
19 |
|
20 |
Washburn |
106 |
31-9 |
17 |
|
21 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
84 |
29-7 |
22 |
|
22 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
65 |
33-9 |
23 |
|
23 |
West Alabama |
35 |
29-10 |
25 |
|
24 |
Columbus State |
26 |
30-11 |
NR |
|
25 |
Charleston |
19 |
20-6 |
RV |
|
25 |
Wilmington |
19 |
23-9 |
RV |
New to Poll: No. 24 Columbus State, t-No. 25 Charleston, t-No. 25 Wilmington
Dropped Out: No. 21 Cal State San Marcos, No. 24 Cal State Dominguez Hills
Receiving Votes: Missouri Southern (9), Southern Arkansas (7), Nova Southeastern (4), West Virginia Wesleyan (3).
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 April 9, 2023.
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