LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Riding a record-setting undefeated start to the season, Concordia Irvine unanimously took over the top spot in this week’s 2022 Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Eagles (32-0), who enjoyed an 8-0 week in Pacific West Conference play, captured all 16 first-place votes and 400 points.
It marks the second time in program history CUI topped the Division II charts, the first coming on March 13, 2019. With those eight league victories, the Eagles improved to 20-0 in PacWest play, holding a six-game lead over Azusa Pacific. Earlier this season, CUI’s 20th win secured the program’s best start in the NCAA Division II era.
No. 2 UT Tyler, which held the No. 1 ranking since the preseason poll, split a pair of nationally-ranked doubleheaders on the road in Lone Star Conference play. The Patriots (27-3) bounced back from game one defeats to earn those splits at then-No. 13 Angelo State and then-No. 10 Lubbock Christian.
Rogers State moved up another notch to No. 3. The Hillcats (26-2) are riding a 12-game win streak following three doubleheader sweeps, including four victories, three by one run, in MIAA action against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
Valdosta State (21-5) slipped to No. 4 after it took two-of-three from Mississippi College on the road in Gulf South Conference play. Indianapolis remained in the fifth spot as it went 3-1 against Great Lakes Valley Conference opposition. The Greyhounds (23-3) swept Lewis and split at Illinois Springfield.
Tampa rose three spots to No. 6 following a three-game Sunshine State Conference road sweep of Palm Beach Atlantic, which extended the Spartans’ (23-8) win streak to 12 games.
Sandwiched between No. 7 Augustana and No. 10 Grand Valley State, No. 8 Cal State San Marcos and No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce are this week’s two biggest poll risers.
The Cougars (31-3), along with CUI, are the first two programs to reach the 30-win plateau in 2022. CSUSM ran its win streak to 12 following a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association sweep of San Francisco State. The Lions (29-7) posted three more top-25 wins last week, sweeping Lubbock Christian and splitting with Angelo State on the road.
Seton Hill joins the rankings for the first time in program history at No. 24. The Griffins (20-3) own a seven-game win streak and have won 12 of their last 13 contests.
The 2022 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 March 27.
2022 NFCA Division II Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
March 29 (Week 7)
|
Rank |
School |
Points |
2022 Record |
Prev. Ranking |
|
1 |
Concordia Irvine (16) |
400 |
32-0 |
2 |
|
2 |
UT Tyler |
383 |
27-3 |
1 |
|
3 |
Rogers State |
367 |
26-2 |
4 |
|
4 |
Valdosta State |
353 |
21-5 |
3 |
|
5 |
Indianapolis |
334 |
23-3 |
5 |
|
6 |
Tampa |
304 |
23-8 |
9 |
|
7 |
Augustana |
301 |
16-5 |
8 |
|
8 |
Cal State San Marcos |
268 |
31-3 |
14 |
|
9 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
263 |
29-7 |
21 |
|
10 |
Grand Valley State |
259 |
15-2 |
7 |
|
11 |
Auburn Montgomery |
245 |
24-6 |
17 |
|
12 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
233 |
28-5 |
15 |
|
13 |
North Georgia |
188 |
26-10 |
12 |
|
14 |
Angelo State |
184 |
25-7 |
13 |
|
15 |
Minnesota State |
172 |
18-6 |
16 |
|
16 |
West Florida |
135 |
18-7 |
11 |
|
17 |
Lubbock Christian |
131 |
26-6 |
10 |
|
18 |
Lincoln Memorial |
126 |
27-7 |
20 |
|
19 |
Central Oklahoma |
113 |
28-6 |
19 |
|
20 |
West Texas A&M |
95 |
19-10 |
6 |
|
21 |
Carson-Newman |
62 |
25-7 |
18 |
|
22 |
Oklahoma Christian |
59 |
24-8 |
23 |
|
23 |
Embry-Riddle |
50 |
17-7 |
25 |
|
24 |
Seton Hill |
44 |
20-3 |
RV |
|
25 |
Chico State |
33 |
24-10 |
22 |
New to Poll: No. 24 Seton Hill
Dropped Out: No. 24 Anderson
Receiving Votes: Anderson (29), St. Mary’s (20), Southern Arkansas (17), Adelphi (8), East Stroudsburg (8), Cal State Monterey Bay (6), Georgian Court (6), Rollins (4).
The 2022 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA’s eight regions. Records reflect games played through March 27.
