Texas Tech claims top spot in week nine of NFCA poll

Several key matchups are scheduled this week.

Interconference play is in full swing through week nine of the college softball season, including another huge top-ranked SEC matchup.

Texas and Alabama faced off in Tuscaloosa in a battle of the No. 1 versus the No. 4 seed in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The first game of the series saw the Longhorns blow out the Crimson Tide 9-1. After that game, however, it was all Alabama. Texas was held to four runs in both games, while Alabama scored 11 in game two and seven in game three.

The loss brings Texas down to its lowest ranking at No. 4, and propels Alabama to No. 3. 

Texas dropped three spots, allowing Texas Tech to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, something that has alluded them since week one. The Red Raiders handled business against BYU, mercy-ruling them in every game. 

At the No. 2 position is Oklahoma, the school’s highest ranking of the year. Oklahoma and Texas play a huge three-game series this weekend. 

It will be hard to supplant Texas Tech at No. 1, but a sweep over the Longhorns might be enough to sway the voters. For Texas, a series win over Oklahoma could right the ship after a few tough weeks.

Tennessee continues its slide after dropping one game to unranked South Carolina. The Lady Vols find themselves ranked No. 9 after being No. 1 just three weeks ago.

Florida is another in the top 10 to fall, dropping two spots after taking two of three from No. 13 Mississippi State. Despite winning the series, Florida was outscored 13-12 across three games. 

Virginia and Duke faced off in a match between opponents in very different situations. Duke had just climbed back into the rankings after being unranked for four weeks, while Virginia was a mainstay of the top 15. A three-game series between the two would change everything.

Virginia traveled to Durham and left without a win. The series was close throughout, but Duke matched Virginia blow-for-blow, securing the three-game sweep. Virginia drops five spots to the No. 17 ranking, while Duke rises five spots to No. 18.

UCF rejoins the list after three weeks of being unranked. UCF hosted Utah and won two games in the series, but the teams were forced to settle for a 2-2 tie in game three. Utah’s no-new-inning time had been reached, which forced the game to conclude.

Sitting at No. 25, UCF will travel to No. 23 Arizona State in a battle of the bottom of the poll.

Both teams are at risk of being unranked following this series. UCF likely needs to at least win the series to stay in the top 25, while Arizona State will be shown the door if it is swept. 

South Carolina finds itself off the list for the first time all year. An upset victory in Tennessee was not enough for the committee to keep the team around. 

The Gamecocks have a chance to make a name for themselves with No. 6 Florida coming to town. A series win might be necessary to rejoin the list, as one win against Tennessee was not enough to keep them on it.

25. UCF, 30-10-1 (Unranked)

24. Stanford, 22-12, (24)

23. Arizona State, 29-11, (20)

22. Washington, 31-9, (21)

21. LSU, 25-13, (22)

20. Grand Canyon, 37-4, (17)

19. Oklahoma State, 25-10, (19)

18. Duke, 28-11, (23)

17. Virginia, 31-6, (12)

16. Georgia, 28-10, (15)

15. Oregon, 29-9, (18)

14. Texas A&M, 26-12, (16)

13. Mississippi State, 33-9, (13)

12. Arizona, 29-8, (14)

11. Virginia Tech, 33-5, (11)

10. UCLA, 33-5, (10)

9. Tennessee, 32-6, (7)

8. Arkansas, 32-5, (9)

7. Nebraska, 30-6, (8)

6. Florida, 36-5, (5)

5. Florida State, 35-4, (6)

4. Texas, 32-4, (1)

3. Alabama, 35-3, (4)

2. Oklahoma, 38-3, (3)

1. Texas Tech, 38-2, (2)

Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Carter Joseph Brooks is a student-intern at Penn State University.