Tampa Takes No. 19 Spot in NFCA Poll
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Currently riding a school-record 13-game winning streak, the University of Tampa softball team moved up one spot to No. 19 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll.
The 21-3 Spartans are one of five South Region teams in the top-25, joined by Valdosta State (3), Alabama-Huntsville (5), Barry (8) and Rollins (13).
Pitching has been dominant for the Spartans, who are also off to its best Sunshine State Conference start in program history at 6-0. UT's pitching duo of Deanna Henriott and Kayla Cox has a combined ERA of 0.87 as opposing hitters are batting just .112 against the pair.
As a team, the Spartans are number-one in the nation in ERA and are fifth with a .979 fielding percentage. UT is also ninth with a .875 winning percentage.
Among national leaders, Cox is first in Era (0.39), second in strikeouts per seven innings (11.7), first in hits allowed per seven innings (2.46), seventh in strikeouts (119) and second in shutouts (7). Henriott is eighth in Era (0.88), third in strikeouts per seven innings (11.6), fifth in wins (12), second in hits allowed per seven innings (2.65), third in strikeouts (157) and second in shutouts (7). Susan Jallo is also third in the nation in triples with four.
Tampa has now been ranked in every poll throughout the 2012 season and holds a current streak of 17 consecutive weeks in the national rankings, marking a program record.
Tampa hosts SSC opponent St. Leo for a weekend series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m., and concluding with a 1 p.m., Sunday doubleheader.
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.