Momentum Continues For Tampa in Top-25 Poll
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Tampa softball team is now ranked No. 12 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 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 three spots from last week's top-25 release. The NCAA South Region is heavily represented in the poll, led by Valdosta State at No. 4. Fellow Sunshine State Conference foe Saint Leo is No. 22 as South Region opponent North Alabama comes in at No. 10. Rollins and Alabama-Huntsville are both receiving votes.
Tampa now stands at 28-8 on the season and owns a 16-5 Sunshine State Conference record. The Spartans have won 10 straight games and are coming off sweeps of Florida Southern, Eckerd and most recently Nova Southeastern. During the streak, UT has outscored its opponents 56-11 with six shutouts.
While outhitting its opponents, UT's pitching has been stellar with Kayla Cox leading the way. Cox is now 21-4 on the year with a 0.50 ERA. In 169.2 innings, she has amassed 266 strikeouts while hurling a school record six no-hitters. Cox is approaching Deanna Henriott's school record of 308 strikeouts as her 14 shutouts make her the program's single-season leader in the record book.
Sophomores Kayleen Boatwright and Meagan Burke lead the UT offense with .342 and .330 batting averages. UT also has three other starters hitting over .300, including Stacy Piagno (.318), Katie Bannon (.310), and Kandi Kuder (.302).
Among NCAA leaders, Tampa is second in the nation with a 0.94 team ERA. The Spartans are also ranked ninth with a .971 fielding percentage.
Cox is the national leader in ERA and shutouts. She is also second in hits per seven innings (2.76), fifth in strikeouts, seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (11.0) and 14th in wins.
Kuder is ninth in the nation in toughest to strikeout as the sophomore third baseman strikes out one time in every 48 at bats.
The Spartans have now been ranked for a school-record 36 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 closes out its regular season with a three-game series at Lynn, beginning Friday. UT will then await the announcement on the postseason schedule by the NCAA.