LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Angelo State reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. Returning after a one-week hiatus, the Rambelles (41-4) were nearly unanimous, receiving 14 of a 16 possible first-place votes.

Angelo State became the first Division II program to reach the 40-win plateau and join Division I Arizona as the first two NCAA 40-game winners. The Rambelles rebounded from a pair losses to post six straight wins, including five last week. They picked up a pair of road win at Texas A&M University International (2-1, 8-0) before sweeping a Lone Star Conference series from Midwestern State (8-0, 6-2, 3-1).

With previous No. 1 Humboldt State falling to No. 5, Pfeiffer, Harding and Saint Leo each shifted up one spot, respectively.

The No. 2 Falcons (35-3) swept a Conference Carolinas doubleheader from Southern Wesleyan (5-4, 9-1) to extend their winning streak to eight. The third-ranked Bison (38-4) won their first two games of the week against Arkansas Tech (4-3, 1-0) before having their 27-game winning streak snapped at East Central (1-0). They did rebound to take the final three games from the Tigers in Great American Conference play. The Lions (34-7) moved into the four spot after sweeping a three-game Sunshine State Conference series at Florida Tech (11-3, 7-0, 11-0).

The Jacks (28-7), who fell four positions, split a California Collegiate Athletics Association at UC San Diego (2-4, 3-2, 6-4, 2-3) in which all four contest were decided by two runs or less.

West Texas A&M (32-6) jumped up three spots after a three-game Lone Star sweep of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Southern Arkansas (35-7) held firm at No. 7, while Southern Indiana (34-8) crept up to No. 8 and North Georgia (35-9) moved up to No. 9 from No. 12. Cal State Monterey (32-7) completed the top-10, falling to No. 10 after going 3-3 last week.

No. 23 Saginaw Valley State (22-9) makes its first appearance in the poll this season and No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne (37-8) returns to the top-25 after a one-week hiatus. No. 14 Indianapolis and No. 17 Armstrong State dropped out of the poll.

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, April 9.

 

2017 NFCA Division II Softball Coaches Poll
Week 9 | April 12, 2017

Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points 2017 Record Prev. Ranking 1 Angelo State (14) 394 41-4 2 2 Pfeiffer (1) 371 35-3 3 3 Harding 361 38-4 4 4 Saint Leo 357 34-7 5 5 Humboldt State (1) 341 28-7 1 6 West Texas A&M 321 32-6 9 7 Southern Arkansas 294 35-7 7 8 Southern Indiana 281 34-8 10 9 North Georgia 268 35-9 12 10 Cal State Monterey Bay 249 32-7 8 11 Colorado Mesa 221 32-4 19 12 West Virginia Wesleyan 214 25-5 14 13 Chico State 203 28-7 13 14 St. Mary’s 158 32-9 6 14 Minnesota State 158 32-6 18 16 UAH 144 31-11 23 17 California Baptist 132 28-7 20 18 Limestone 128 37-7 21 19 Valdosta State 102 29-12 11 20 Caldwell 95 22-9 25 21 West Chester 89 27-7 22 22 Dixie State 75 32-9 24 23 Saginaw Valley State 44 22-9 RV 24 Lenoir-Rhyne 40 37-8 RV 25 Tampa 36 24-8 16

* Records reflect games played through Sunday, April 9.

Dropped Out: No. 14 Indianapolis, No. 17 Armstrong State.

New to Poll: No. 23 Saginaw Valley State, No. 24 Lenoir Rhyne.

Receiving Votes:  New Haven (31), Central Oklahoma (28), Wayne State (Mich.) (19), Armstrong State (17), West Florida (12), Indianapolis (8), Adelphi (6), Pittsburg State (1), Charleston (1), Cameron (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.