UT Softball to Open Season at No. 17 in Nation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tampa softball team has garnered a national ranking in the preseason poll for the fourth straight year as the Spartans come in at No. 17 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II poll.

Tampa was selected to finish second in the preseason Sunshine State Conference poll, and is the only SSC institution ranked in the top-25. Rollins, the preseason SSC favorite to win the conference is listed as receiving votes. Fellow NCAA South Region opponents Valdosta State (2) and Alabama-Huntsville (12) are also listed.

Head coach Leslie Kanter is coming off a 33-8 season as her squad advanced to the NCAA South Regional finals in 2014. Her Spartans also concluded SSC play with a 19-5 showing while capturing the conference title.

All-American Julia Morrow leads the Spartans into 2015 as the senior is coming off a season where she was 15-5 with an NCAA best 0.72 ERA. In 126.1 innings, the Baiting Hollow, N.Y. native had 195 strikeouts averaging 10.8 per seven innings, which was fourth best in the nation. Morrow recorded 12 complete games, along with six shutouts and three saves on the year.

UT's offense also returns its top two hitters as first baseman Meagan Burke (.347) and designated player Lindsay Dring (.340) expect to lead the lineup. Burke had a team-leading six home runs and 20 RBI 50 last season while Dring was second in RBI (14).

After opening last season at No. 13, the Spartans were ranked all season, including reaching a program record at No. 2. UT has now been ranked for five straight seasons. Additionally, Tampa has been nationally ranked for a school-record 54 consecutive weeks, dating back to the 2011 season.

Kanter and her Spartans open the 2015 season at the Eckerd Tournament in Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 6-8. The Spartans meet Southwest Baptist and Lindenwood on Friday and also have meetings with Chadron State, Colorado Christian, and West Florida.

Click here for complete NFCA preseason poll