Tampa Ranked No. 7 in Latest NFCA Softball Poll
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Coming off a sweep over Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Southern College, the University of Tampa softball team moved up one spot to No. 7 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll.
The 31-5 Spartans are one of five South Region teams in the top-25, joined by Valdosta State (1), Barry (11), Rollins (14) and Alabama-Huntsville (22).
Pitching has been dominant for the Spartans, who won their first 11 Sunshine State Conference games for the program's best start in league play. UT's pitching duo of Deanna Henriott and Kayla Cox has a combined ERA of 0.95 as opposing hitters are batting just .127 against the pair.
As a team, the Spartans are number-one in the nation in ERA and first in fielding percentage as the Spartans own a .980 team fielding clip. UT is also sixth with a .861 winning percentage.
Among national leaders, Cox is first in ERA (0.28), first in strikeouts per seven innings (12.1), first in hits allowed per seven innings (2.47), 19th in strikeouts (171) and third in shutouts (10).
Cox also currently carries a streak of 58.1 scoreless innings pitched without an earned run, which represents a new school record for the sophomore from Riverview, Fla.
Henriott is 13th in ERA (1.02), second in strikeouts per seven innings (11.4), 17th in wins (18), second in hits allowed per seven innings (3.28), fourth in strikeouts (257) and third in shutouts (10).
Tampa has now been ranked in every poll throughout the 2012 season and holds a current streak of 20 consecutive weeks in the national rankings, marking a program record.
The Spartans are set to host Eckerd College, beginning Friday at 6 p.m., and wrapping up with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday will also represent Senior Day as three Spartans will be honored between games.
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.