LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sweeping through its first Lone Star Conference series, West Texas A&M tightened its grip on the No. 1 ranking in this week’s NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday morning.

With the sweep of then-No. 20 Tarleton State, the Lady Buffs (20-0) gained three more first-place votes to garner 15 of 16 and a total of 399 points. WT dominated three of the four contests with run-rule triumphs (10-2, 20-2, 8-0), but had to claw back from an early deficit in game two to edge the Texanns (12-9), 5-4.

Indianapolis and University of Alabama in Huntsville switch spots as the Greyhound went undefeated at the Music City Invitational. Improving to 7-0, Indianapolis, which tallied one first-place vote, shut out Huntigton (3-0) and Hillsdale (2-0) before edging out Trevecca Nazarene and Ohio Dominican to remain undefeated. In the shutout of Hillsdale, senior Morgan Foley set the Division II seven-inning strikeout out record, setting down all 21 batters on her own in a no-hit effort. UAH went 2-1 in its Gulf South Conference road series at West Georgia. After splitting day one’s double dip (6-0 / 2-4), the Chargers (18-3) took the series with a 7-3 victory on Sunday.

Humboldt State remained at No. 4 following a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association road sweep of Cal State San Marcos. Behind a solid performance in the circle, the Jacks raised their record to 13-1-1 by allowing just one run over the course of four contests and earning three shutouts.

Arkansas Tech and North Alabama made moves to No. 5 and No. 6. The Golden Suns (16-1) extended their winning streak to 14 games after sweeping four games from Henderson State (8-1, 7-4, 5-0, 12-4) in their second Great American Conference series of the season. The Lions (21-4) swept a three-game GSC series at Shorter, who came in receiving votes. UNA posted 3-0, 8-1 and 7-5 victories reach the 20-win plateau.

University of Missouri-St. Louis dropped two positions to No. 7 after splitting a pair of games last week at the NTC Spring Games. The Tritons (11-1) opened with a 9-0 shutout of Notre Dame College before dropping their first contest of the season to then No. 16 West Virginia Wesleyan, 2-1 in eight innings.

Rounding out the top-10 is No. 8 Georgia College, No. 9 California Baptist and No. 10 St. Mary’s, each jumping up two spots. The Bobcats (14-3) split a Peach Belt doubleheader at Young Harris (3-8 / 3-2). The Lancers (15-3) swept a non-conference twinbill from Cal State Dominguez Hills (7-1 / 6-0), while the Rattlers (15-5) took care of business in Heartland Conference action with a sweep of Oklahoma Panhandle State (8-0 / 8-6 / 9-0).

West Chester’s 10-0 start has the Golden Rams in at No. 24, while Florida Tech dropped out of the rankings.

The NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through Feb. 28.

2016 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Regular Season (Week 2) | March 2, 2016

New To Poll: No. 24 West Chester

Dropped Out: No. 24 Florida Tech

Receiving Votes: LIU Post (19), West Florida (7), Florida Tech (5), New Haven (4) Pittsburg State (4), Angelo State (1), Bellarmine (1), Young Harris (1).