LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Christopher Newport swept Greensboro this week to remain secure as the top team in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Christopher Newport (25-1) heads an unchanged top eight, and a first five who have combined to win their last 45 games. That includes No. 2 Salisbury (26-2), which has won 13 straight, third-ranked Texas Lutheran (25-4), which has won its last nine, and No. 4 Birmingham-Southern (25-4), which has won 15 straight.
Elsewhere, DePauw (17-6) has captured 14 of its last 15, and went 4-1 on its California trip. The Tigers’ lone loss out West was a 13-12 loss in 12 innings to then-No. 18 Chapman.
After two uncharacteristic weeks, No. 14 Virginia Wesleyan (21-8) looked more like itself in Monday’s rule-rule road sweep of Shenandoah (10-0 and 11-1) after voters had cast their ballots.
Babson (14-4) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (19-9) entered the top 25 this week after continuing their strong play, which for Mary Hardin-Baylor included another ranked victory — this time a 3-0 win over No. 7 East Texas Baptist.
Bethel (14-2), York (Pa.) (11-6) and Pfeiffer (19-6) are the new teams receiving votes.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll is selected by 10 NCAA Division III head coaches representing the 10 NCAA regions. Current 2022 records are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll – April 5, 2022
|
Rank |
Team |
Points |
2022 Record |
Previous |
|
1 |
Christopher Newport (10) |
250 |
25-1 |
1 |
|
2 |
Salisbury |
240 |
26-2 |
2 |
|
3 |
Texas Lutheran |
230 |
26-4 |
3 |
|
4 |
Birmingham-Southern |
220 |
25-4 |
4 |
|
5 |
Belhaven |
210 |
22-4 |
5 |
|
6 |
Randolph-Macon |
200 |
20-3 |
6 |
|
7 |
East Texas Baptist |
190 |
22-7 |
7 |
|
8 |
Eastern Connecticut State |
180 |
16-4 |
8 |
|
9 |
DePauw |
170 |
17-6 |
10 |
|
10 |
Roanoke |
160 |
17-7 |
11 |
|
11 |
Tufts |
150 |
15-3 |
14 |
|
12 |
Berry |
140 |
22-8 |
13 |
|
13 |
Linfield |
130 |
25-7 |
12 |
|
14 |
Virginia Wesleyan |
120 |
21-8 |
9 |
|
15 |
Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
110 |
10-4 |
15 |
|
16 |
Concordia (Wis.) |
100 |
12-1 |
16 |
|
17 |
Milwaukee School of Engineering |
90 |
5-1 |
17 |
|
18 |
Rowan |
80 |
17-5 |
19 |
|
19 |
Millikin |
70 |
20-2 |
20 |
|
20 |
Chapman |
60 |
19-5 |
18 |
|
21 |
Saint Benedict (Minn.) |
40 |
13-2 |
22 |
|
22 |
Loras |
36 |
15-1 |
23 |
|
23 |
Mount St. Joseph |
23 |
18-5 |
24 |
|
24 |
Babson |
18 |
14-4 |
RV |
|
25 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
10 |
19-9 |
RV |
Others receiving votes: Bethel 5, Wartburg 5, WashU 5, York (Pa.) 4, Moravian 2, Pfeiffer 1, and The College of New Jersey 1.
Dropped out: Lebanon Valley and Nebraska Wesleyan.
