Tampa Moves Into Top-10 in Softball Poll
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tampa softball team is now ranked No. 10 in the NFCA Division II poll that was released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Wednesday.
Tampa is also ranked No. 4 in the NCAA South Region release. The Spartans stand behind Valdosta State, Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama. The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season will earn an invitation to the 2013 NCAA South Regional. The winner of the Sunshine State Conference, Gulf South Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will each earn an automatic bid to the regional.
The Spartans, who have been ranked all season, moved up two spots from last week's top-25 release. The NCAA South Region is heavily represented in the poll, led by Valdosta State at No. 4. Fellow Sunshine State Conference foe Saint Leo is No. 24 as South Region opponents Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama come in at No. 18 and 21 respectively. SSC foe Rollins is also receiving votes.
Tampa now stands at 31-8 on the season and owns a 19-5 Sunshine State Conference record. The Spartans have won 13 straight games and are coming off sweeps of Florida Southern, Eckerd, Nova Southeastern and most recently Lynn. During the streak, UT has outscored its opponents 73-12 with eight shutouts.
While outhitting its opponents, UT's pitching has been stellar with Kayla Cox leading the way. Cox is now 23-4 on the year with a 0.45 ERA. In 185.1 innings, she has amassed 293 strikeouts while hurling a school record seven no-hitters. Cox is approaching Deanna Henriott's school record of 308 strikeouts as her 16 shutouts make her the program's single-season leader in the record book.
Sophomores Kayleen Boatwright and Stacy Piagno lead the UT offense with .344 and .333 batting averages. UT also has two other starters hitting over .300, including Meagan Burke (.325), and Katie Bannon (.305).
Among NCAA leaders, Tampa is first in the nation with a 0.87 team ERA. The Spartans are also ranked 12th with a .971 fielding percentage.
Cox is the national leader in ERA, shutouts and hits per seven innings (2.61). She is also fourth in strikeouts, sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (11.0) and 10th in wins.
Kuder is seventh in the nation in toughest to strikeout as the sophomore third baseman strikes out one time in every 52.5 at bats.
The Spartans have now been ranked for a school-record 37 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.
UT will await the announcement on the postseason schedule by the NCAA on Sunday. Please visit TampaSpartans.com for complete information on the 2013 NCAA Tournament.