After two weeks in the “also receiving votes” category, the Seattle University softball team is back in the top 25 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II poll, earning enough points to be ranked 13th in this week’s poll, released Wednesday by the national organization.
After advancing from a preseason ranking of 18th to a program-best ranking of 11th in the March 5 poll, Seattle University inexplicably dropped out of the top 25 on March 12 despite sweeping a three-game series from Montana State Billings the previous weekend. Last week the Redhawks earned eight points to stay in the “also receiving votes” category, but this week, despite not playing a game since March 16, the team earned 100 points to move into the 13th position.
is the only GNAC school and one of three West Region schools to appear in this week’s poll. UC San Diego dropped from ninth to tenth, while moved up slightly from 22nd to a tie for 20th. The Redhawks will face the Lumberjacks at the Mizuno Tournament of Champions this Friday, March 28, at approximately 4 p.m. at in SeattleU and UC San Diego could meet Sunday during bracket play of the tournament hosted by Cal State Stanislaus.
In the first NCAA statistical rankings of the season, has the seventh-highest winning percentage in Division II at .857, winning 18 of its first 21 games. Part of that hot start can be related to SeattleU’s solid defense, as the team is 11th in the country with a .974 fielding percentage. Individually, Katie Antich (, ) is 22nd in stolen bases per game (0.68), Megan MacIsaac (, ) is 25th in on-base percentage (.522), and Erin Martin () is 27th in Division II with her 11 victories.
leaves Thursday morning for , first facing Cal State San Bernardino in a non-conference game later Thursday afternoon, March 27, beginning at 3 p.m. The Redhawks will then begin play in the Tournament of Champions against Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday, March 28, beginning at 11:15 a.m. Live stats for all Seattle University games in Turlock will be available through GoSeattleU.com.