Tampa Up Four Spots in Newest Softball Poll
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tampa softball team is now ranked No. 7 in the NFCA Division II poll that was released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Wednesday.
The Spartans, who have been ranked all season, are up four spots from No. 11 in last week's installment. A total of three NCAA South Region schools are in the top-10, with UT joined by No. 3 Valdosta State and No. 10 Rollins. Other region teams in the rankings are West Alabama (18) and North Alabama (24).
Tampa now stands at 18-6 on the season and owns a 6-3 Sunshine State Conference record. While outhitting its opponents, UT's pitching has been stellar with Kayla Cox leading the way. Cox is now 13-3 on the year with a 0.41 ERA. In 109.1 innings, she has amassed 195 strikeouts while hurling five no-hitters. Julia Morrow has followed suit with a 5-3 record and 3.11 ERA.
Sophomore Meagan Burke and Kayleen Boatwright are both hitting over .300, with Boatwright driving in a team-leading 16 runs as Burke has three home runs. Stacy Piagno shares the team lead in RBI, while hitting .296 on the year.
Among NCAA leaders, Tampa is fourth in the nation with a 0.69 team ERA and 25th in win-loss percentage.
Cox is the national leader in ERA, strikeouts per seven innings (14.4) and hits allowed per seven innings (1.66). She also ranks 13th in victories (10) and 22nd in walks allowed per seven innings (1.13). Morrow is 29th in hits allowed per seven innings (5.15). Stacy Piagno is 26th in triples per game (0.17) and 14th in triples (3).
The Spartans have now been ranked for a school-record 31 consecutive weeks after ending the 2012 season at No. 12. Tampa is nearing its best ranking ever, as UT was No. 4 in 2002.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.
Tampa hosts Sunshine State Conference opponent Barry for a weekend series, beginning Saturday at the Naimoli Family Field. Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.