STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the season straight week the Michigan Wolverines (37-5) made a serious run at becoming the No. 1 softball team in country, but Washington once again managed to turn back the challenge and hold onto the top spot in the latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll for the 12th time this season. 

The Huskies (37-5) garnered 19 of 30 first-place votes, while Michigan took home the other 11. In total points, Washington received 736 of a possible 750 to edge the Wolverines by just eight points. 

After going undefeated last week, Arizona (38-7) stayed put in the rankings held on to the third for the second consecutive week. Alabama (39-9) and UCLA (33-9) each moved up one spot to fourth and fifth, respectively, forcing Florida (35-7) down to sixth and out of the top five for only the fourth time this season. 

No teams dropped out of the rankings this week, leaving no room for any new editions. After a 5-0 week, DePaul (29-14) surged to the top of the “receiving votes” category where they missed out on a spot in the poll by 38 points. 

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. The next USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll will be released Tuesday, May 4.