UT Continues Top-25 Climb and Mention in Regional Rankings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tampa softball team is now ranked No. 15 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 initial NCAA South Region release. The Spartans stand behind North Alabama, Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville. 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 one spot from last week's release. The NCAA South Region is heavily represented in the poll, led by Valdosta State at No. 3. Fellow Sunshine State Conference foe Rollins is No. 22 while Saint Leo enters at No. 25. North Alabama comes in at No. 11 while Alabama-Huntsville is listed as receiving votes.
Tampa now stands at 25-8 on the season and owns a 13-5 Sunshine State Conference record. The Spartans have won seven straight games and are coming off sweeps of Florida Southern and Eckerd. During the streak, UT has outscored its opponents 47-7 with five shutouts.
While outhitting its opponents, UT's pitching has been stellar with Kayla Cox leading the way. Cox is now 19-4 on the year with a 0.54 ERA. In 155.2 innings, she has amassed 246 strikeouts while hurling a school record six no-hitters. Cox is approaching Deanna Henriott's school record of 308 strikeouts as her 13 shutouts put her in a first-place tie in the program's single-season record book.
Sophomore Meagan Burke and Kayleen Boatwright lead the UT offense with .340 and .333 batting averages. UT also has four other starters hitting over .300, including Stacy Piagno (.313), Taylor Storey (.310), Kandi Kuder (.307) and Katie Bannon (.300).
Among NCAA leaders, Tampa is second in the nation with a 1.03 team ERA. The Spartans are also ranked fifth with a .974 fielding percentage.
Cox is the national leader in ERA, hits per seven innings (2.79) and shutouts (13). She is also third in strikeouts and sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (11.1).
Piagno is 33rd in triples (4) and 36th in triples per game (0.12), while Kuder is 13th in the nation in toughest to strikeout (44).
The Spartans have now been ranked for a school-record 35 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.
Tampa returns to action on Friday against Nova Southeastern University at 6 p.m. The following day will mark senior day as the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., on Saturday with ceremonies between games. Live stats and a video broadcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.