LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Humboldt State continued its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll for games played Feb. 27 through March 5. As the majority of the poll continues to see significant shuffling, the top five program held steady to their respective rankings.
Despite suffering their first defeat of the season, the Jacks (12-1) received 14 first-place votes and 397 out of a possible 400 points. In California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, HSU took three-of-four from Stanislaus State (4-1, 7-2, 2-6, 4-3) as they improved to 7-1 in league play.
Making the biggest leap this week is a red-hot Angelo State (264) squad as it knocked off then-No. 22 Lubbock Christian in a non-conference doubleheader by the scores of 10-0 and 7-1. The Rambelles (19-1), who have won 15 straight, made a nine-position move to No. 8.Southern Arkansas picked up the other two first-place votes and totaled 381 points. The Lady Muleriders (18-2) took care of business by outscoring Oklahoma Baptist, 50-6, in a four-game Great American Conference series sweep.
St. Mary’s (17-3 / 366 points) split a mid-week twinbill at Tarleton State (5-0, 4-5), while No. 4 North Georgia (350) and No. 5 Valdosta State (343) reached the 20-win plateau with 3-1 and 4-1 weeks, respectively. The Nighthawks (21-6) swept Lincoln Memorial in non-conference action and split a Peach Belt doubleheader with Armstrong State. After a mid-week split at Flagler, the Blazers (20-4) posted three Gulf South wins over West Alabama.
Chico State (294) and Lenoir-Rhyne (288 points) each moved up three spots this week. The Wildcats (12-1) swept Cal State Dominguez Hills by a score of 39-10 in CCAA action, while the Bobcats (21-2) also reach the 20-win mark with a 5-0 showing at the Shaw Challenge, which saw them outscore their opposition 56-4.
Idle Central Oklahoma (9-3 / 253) entered the top 10 at No. 9, while Saint Leo (16-6 / 245) dropped two spots to No. 10 after falling twice at Nova Southeastern in Sunshine State Conference play.
Returning to the poll after a three-week hiatus is No. 22 Wayne State (Mich.). The Warriors (11-4) have won nine of 10 after starting 2-3 at the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic. Making its first appearance of 2017 is Southern New Hampshire, who is off to a 5-1 start.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through Sunday, March 5.
2017 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Week 4 | March 8, 2017
| RANK | TEAM | TOTALS | 2017 Record | Last Poll |
| 1 | Humboldt State (14) | 397 | 12-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Southern Arkansas (2) | 381 | 18-2 | 2 |
| 3 | St. Mary's | 366 | 17-3 | 3 |
| 4 | North Georgia | 350 | 21-6 | 4 |
| 5 | Valdosta State | 343 | 20-4 | 5 |
| 6 | Chico State | 294 | 12-1 | 9 |
| 7 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 288 | 21-2 | 10 |
| 8 | Angelo State | 264 | 19-1 | 17 |
| 9 | Central Oklahoma | 253 | 9-3 | 11 |
| 10 | Saint Leo | 245 | 16-6 | 8 |
| 11 | West Texas A&M | 238 | 18-4 | 6 |
| 12 | Dixie State | 237 | 18-3 | 12 |
| 13 | West Virginia Wesleyan | 204 | 4-0 | 15 |
| 14 | UAH | 184 | 16-5 | 16 |
| 15 | Pfeiffer | 166 | 16-2 | 18 |
| 16 | Southern Indiana | 162 | 9-3 | 13 |
| 17 | Harding | 150 | 15-3 | 19 |
| 18 | Caldwell | 122 | 0-0 | 20 |
| 19 | Indianapolis | 114 | 9-4 | 21 |
| 20 | Lubbock Christian | 76 | 16-4 | 22 |
| 21 | North Alabama | 70 | 16-7 | 23 |
| 22 | Wayne State (Mich.) | 54 | 11-4 | |
| 23 | Missouri Western | 52 | 15-3 | 24 |
| 24 | CSU Monterey Bay | 36 | 13-4 | 25 |
| 25 | Southern New Hampshire | 34 | 5-1 | RV |
Dropped Out: No. 7 Grand Valley State, No. 14 Colorado Mesa
New to Poll: No. 22 Wayne State (Mich.), No. 25 Southern New Hampshire
Receiving Votes: Limestone (33), UMSL (16), LIU Post (11), Cameron (7), Kutztown (5), Tampa (5), Minnesota State (4), Grand Valley State (4), Colorado Mesa (2), UC San Diego (2), Le Moyne (1).
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through Sunday, March 5.
