Softball Cats Tabbed No. 7 In NAIA Poll

The Rogers State softball team fell four spots to No. 7 in the third regular-season edition of the 2013 NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Hillcats dropped a four-game series at Lubbock Christian last week. The four losses is the Hillcat longest losing streak this season. LCU is perhaps one of the nation's hottest teams as the Lady Chaps roll into this week with a 23-game win streak. The Lady Chaps jumped three spots to No. 3 in the poll this week. With a 31-7 record, Oklahoma City moves up two spot to No. 9. St. Gregory's held steady at No. 20 to round out the Sooner Athletic Conference teams in the poll.

For the third-straight week, Concordia (Calif.) pulls in the No. 1 ranking in the Top 25 Poll. With 19 of the possible 21 first-place votes, the Eagles rode the nation's longest win streak at 29 games into last weekend. Simpson (Calif.), who is receiving 77 votes this week, snapped Concordia's win streak with a 2-1 victory on March 30.

Concordia owns the second-most wins with a 34-3 record. The Eagles rebounded with a loss on March 30 with a 9-2 victory in Game 2 versus Simpson – the Eagles have allowed two-or-more runs this year on only nine occasions (in 37 games). The Eagles' pitching staff is No. 1 in the NAIA in ERA (0.700), strikeouts (295) and opponent batting average (0.127).

Second ranked Cal State San Marcos posted 556 total points to stay in the No. 2 slot for the third-consecutive week. Lee and Williams Baptist round out the top five with 529 and 509 points, respectively. The Flames fell in two games over the weekend but still lead the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) with an 11-2 mark. Co-leaders of the American Midwest Conference, Williams Baptist is 26-2 overall.

No. 15 Saint Xavier (Ill.) enjoys the best movement this week, sharing the stage with Lubbock Christian, with a three-spot jump. The Cougars are 19-3 overall and one of three undefeated teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Suffering the farthest fall of 11 spots, No. 19 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) was 19-1 before a doubleheader loss at the hands of unranked Aquinas (Mich.) March 30.

No. 25 Campbellsville (Ky.) becomes the 34th different team to be ranked this year. The Tigers, who were last positioned in the Top 25 on April 10, 2012 (No. 24), have won 13 of their last 14 contests.

Twelve of 21 conferences/independent/unaffiliated groupings are represented in the poll. The SSAC is represented with seven programs within the Top 25 to lead the way: Lee, No. 6 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), No. 10 (tie) William Carey (Miss.), No. 14 Brenau (Ga.), No. 16 Belhaven (Miss.), No. 22 Mobile (Ala.) and No. 24 Spring Hill (Ala.). The Sooner Athletic Conference claims four ranked teams.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences /independent /unaffiliated groupings. The fourth regular-season Top 25 will be announced on April 9.