LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 31, 2021) – Six wins in as many softball games last week has Oklahoma Christian moving the right direction – up the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association's NCAA Division II poll, which was released Wednesday.
OC (23-5) jumped two spots to No. 14 after doubleheader sweeps of Arkansas Tech, Midwestern State (Texas) and Texas Woman's, the latter two coming on the road. The 6-0 week came on the heels of a 2-2 week that had caused the Eagles to drop from their peak of No. 8 to No. 16 last week.
The Eagles, who are tied for third in the rugged Lone Star Conference, are listed fifth among LSC teams in the coaches' poll, behind No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce (21-6), No. 5 Texas-Tyler (21-5), No. 10 West Texas A&M (21-7) and No. 12 Texas A&M-Kingsville (20-5).
For the first time this season, only five LSC teams made the top 25, as Angelo State (Texas) dropped out. But Lubbock Christian (Texas), Angelo State and Texas A&M International all received votes in the poll.
OC now is the highest-ranked Oklahoma team in the poll, as Rogers State dropped nine spots to No. 21. Central Oklahoma – like Rogers State, a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – moved up eight spots to No. 17.
North Georgia (14-0) topped the poll, receiving 14 first-place votes and 397 points, while TAMUC and Augustana (S.D.) (10-2) were tied for second with 370 points, with each receiving a first-place vote. Valdosta State (Ga.) (19-3) was fourth, followed by Texas-Tyler, Rollins (Fla.) (8-0), Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) (24-3), Concordia-Irvine (Calif.) (11-4), Indianapolis (Ind.) (17-2) and West Texas A&M.
The NFCA poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
The Eagles have the weekend off, due to the Easter holiday, and will resume action at home on April 9 against LSC foe Eastern New Mexico. A home doubleheader against West Texas A&M is set for April 11.
2021 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll
March 31 (Week 7)
| Rank |
School |
Points |
2021 Record |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
North Georgia (14) |
397 |
14-0 |
1 |
| t2 |
Augustana (1) |
370 |
10-2 |
3 |
| t2 |
Texas A&M-Commerce (1) |
370 |
21-6 |
2 |
| 4 |
Valdosta State |
349 |
19-3 |
7 |
| 5 |
Texas-Tyler |
336 |
21-5 |
6 |
| 6 |
Rollins |
319 |
8-0 |
5 |
| 7 |
Lincoln Memorial |
305 |
24-3 |
4 |
| 8 |
Concordia-Irvine |
279 |
11-4 |
8 |
| 9 |
Indianapolis |
270 |
17-2 |
11 |
| 10 |
West Texas A&M |
262 |
21-7 |
10 |
| 11 |
Young Harris |
234 |
19-4 |
13 |
| 12 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
228 |
20-5 |
14 |
| 13 |
Winona State |
204 |
11-2 |
15 |
| 14 |
Oklahoma Christian |
191 |
23-5 |
16 |
| 15 |
Grand Valley State |
170 |
15-3 |
19 |
| 16 |
Saint Anselm |
146 |
3-1 |
18 |
| t17 |
Central Oklahoma |
125 |
20-6 |
25 |
| t17 |
Alabama-Huntsville |
125 |
17-7 |
22 |
| 19 |
Colorado Mesa |
115 |
14-0 |
20 |
| 20 |
Minnesota State |
77 |
11-2 |
RV |
| 21 |
Rogers State |
65 |
14-8 |
12 |
| 22 |
West Florida |
52 |
18-10 |
17 |
| 23 |
Saint Leo |
45 |
12-4 |
23 |
| 24 |
Kutztown |
34 |
16-4 |
NR |
| 25 |
Southern Arkansas |
27 |
10-6 |
9 |
New to Poll: No. 20 Minnesota State, No. 24 Kutztown.
Dropped Out: No. 21 Shepherd, No. 24 Angelo State.
Receiving Votes: Lubbock Christian (22), Northwest Nazarene (21), Anderson (23-5), Western Washington (11), Angelo State (10), Trevecca Nazarene (10), Auburn-Montgomery (4), Seton Hill (3), Texas A&M International (2), West Chester (2), Southeastern Oklahoma State (1).
The 2021 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 28.
