College Softball News

Florida Replaces Tennessee at No. 1 in the Latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll

(Photo Courtesy of Florida Athletics)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite each squad receiving an equal number of first-place votes, Florida (11-0) has now edged past Tennessee (9-0) to take over at No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I softball poll for Feb. 18.

The Gators received 15 of 32 possible first-place votes and 782 total points to lead the second-rated Lady Vols (15 first-place votes/776 points) by only six total tallies in the latest rankings. UF rolled through the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., over Feb. 14-16, outscoring its five opponents by a combined total of 59-6. Included in those victories was a 15-2 (6 inn.) rout of then-No. 22 Minnesota, a 19-2 (5 inn.) hammering of Ohio State and an 11-1 (5 inn.) drubbing of Hawai’i.

Tennessee dropped from the top spot despite remaining unbeaten following a perfect 5-0 performance at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla. The Big Orange totaled 38 runs during the event, registered a 3-2 win over home standing USF (received votes in the last poll) and trounced previously unbeaten Illinois, 10-0.

After blowing through the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Washington (10-0) picked up a pair of first-place nods to hold steady at No. 3. Included in UW’s efforts was an 18-1 (6 inn.) rout of San Jose State (received votes in last poll) and a 3-1 victory over then-No. 11 and defending national champion Oklahoma (6-4).

An unbeaten performance at its own Littlewood Classic, including a triumph over the then-No. 11 Sooners helped Arizona State (11-0) climb a single slot to No. 4, while Kentucky (10-0) continued its rapid rise up the rankings, leaping to an all-time program high of fifth. The Wildcats managed a perfect mark at the Texas Classic in Austin, Texas, including two wins over the then-No. 15 Longhorns (6-4, 6-5).

Following its 5-0 performance at the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., Oregon (9-1) made the largest move within last week’s Top 10, leaping from 10th to sixth. Michigan (7-2) dropped a single slot to No. 7 after going 4-1 at the Ragin’ Cajun Invite in Lafayette, La. An unbeaten, six-game effort at the Stacy Winsberg Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., helped UCLA (11-0) advance into the top 10 for the first time in 2014 as the Bruins currently sit at No. 8. Alabama (8-2) plummeted five positions from fourth to ninth following a 3-2 weekend in the Hillenbrand Invite in Tucson, Ariz. During the event, the Crimson Tide suffered a pair of rare shutouts against then-No. 24 Arizona (3-0, 8-0 in 5 inn.). As a result, the Wildcats were rewarded with a staggering 10-position leap from No. 24 to No. 14 in the new rankings. A 6-0 record at the Renegade Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., allowed Florida State (10-1) to advance from 13th into the 10th slot.

Former-No. 23 California (5-4) and No. 25 Louisville (4-5) dropped from this week’s poll, allowing Tulsa (9-1) and Notre Dame (6-1) the opportunity to enter the rankings for the first time in 2014 at No. 22 and No. 24, respectively.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Current 2014 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Poll – Week 2 – Feb. 18, 2014

Rank

Team

2014 Record

Totals

Last Poll Rank

1

Florida (15)

11-0

782

2

2

Tennessee (15)

9-0

776

1

3

Washington (2)

10-0

742

3

4

Arizona State

11-0

705

5

5

Kentucky

10-0

663

7

6

Oregon

9-1

594

10

7

Michigan

7-2

576

6

8

UCLA

11-0

539

12

9

Alabama

8-2

520

4

10

Florida State

10-1

462

13

11

Nebraska

7-2

429

9

12

Texas A&M

9-2

426

8

13

Stanford

11-0

407

17

14

Arizona

9-0

381

24

15

Baylor

8-2

351

16

16

Missouri

4-1

345

14

17

Georgia

7-0

287

19

18

Oklahoma

6-4

283

11

19

South Alabama

6-1

231

18

20

Louisiana Lafayette

6-3-1

178

20

21

Minnesota

8-1

160

22

22

Tulsa

9-1

154

RV

23

LSU

7-3

118

21

24

Notre Dame

6-1

94

RV

25

Texas

6-6

63

15

 

Dropped Out:  No. 23 California (5-4), No. 25 Louisville (4-5)

Others Receiving Votes:  Auburn (42), Lipscomb (26), USC Upstate (18), California (9), Hawai’i (8), UAB (7), San Diego State (6), USF (6), Houston (5), Northwestern (3), DePaul (2), IPFW (2). Louisville (1).

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