The Huskies have run-ruled nine of their first 10 opponents with their closest margin of victory being seven runs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Undefeated Washington ascends to No. 1 in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. In a wild week, the Huskies (10-0) were one of two top-5 teams not to suffer a defeat.
UW was one of five teams to receive first-place votes (15) and edged out No. 2 Florida (9) by a margin of seven points, 750-743. No. 3 UCLA (2), No. 4 Oklahoma (5) and No. 6 Texas A&M (1) also picked up first-place nods.
That does it! Huskies shut out Lamar in game two for a 8-0 victory! #GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/bL4Sa3bzgY
— UW Softball (@UWSoftball) February 19, 2018
Washington returns to No. 1 for the first time since the final regular season poll of 2010. Behind a high-powered offensive, the Huskies have run-ruled nine of their first 10 opponents with their closest margin of victory being seven runs. Last week, UW participated in Sam Houston State’s Bearkat Invitational and outscored its opponents 46-1 and through 10 games outscored the opposition 116-4. That lone run in the tournament finale snapped an eight-game shutout streak.
MORE: Boston University shocks No. 1 Oklahoma 4-3 at Troy Cox Classic
The Gators (8-1) opened the week with three straight shutouts, including two down in Lafayette, La. against then-No. 16 Louisiana (4-0, 9-0). UF did fall in the finale of the three-game series to the Ragin’ Cajuns, 4-3 in 11 innings.
Did You Know: Our back-to-back shutouts over No. 16 Louisiana was the first time the Ragin' Cajuns had been shut out in back-to-back games in over a decade‼️ #GoGators #TheEdge pic.twitter.com/MXnHgAjR4S
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) February 19, 2018
UCLA moved up two spots to No. 3 as it went 4-0, including a 3-0 start at the Mary Nutter Classic I. The Bruins (9-0) posted three shutouts and surrendered one run in the four wins. Previous No. 1 Oklahoma, went 1-1 at a rain-shortened Troy Cox Classic in New Mexico. The Sooners (6-1) were upset by Boston University in their opener, 4-3, but rebounded with a 1-0 win over host RV New Mexico State.
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Oregon slipped one spot to No. 5, following a 3-1 week at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge. After three shutouts to open the tournament, the Ducks (9-1) potent offense was held in check in a 1-0 nine-inning defeat to then-No. 15 Ole Miss.
More like Megan KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKleist.@MeganKleist ties for the third-most strikeouts in Oregon single-game history. Here's all 16 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/uKJMXpVewC
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) February 18, 2018
No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 7 LSU remained in their spots with undefeated showings at home. Baylor returned to the top-10 after a one-week absence. The Bears (7-0) went 4-0 at the Balck & Gold Challenge in Hattiesburg, Miss., which included wins over then-No. 24 McNeese State (11-1) and then- No. 9 Alabama, 2-1.
Florida State dropped to No. 9 after a 4-1 week. The Seminoles (8-1) put in a strong showing, hosting the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. FSU knocked off then-No. 14 Minnesota twice and split with No. 20 Michigan.
HIGHLIGHTS: Check out some of the top plays from today's win over Michigan! pic.twitter.com/vBLqY5NE3K
— FSU Softball (@FSU_Softball) February 18, 2018
No. 9 Alabama and No. 10 Tennessee both suffered their first losses of the season and fell one position each. The Crimson Tide (6-1) went 3-1 at the Black & Gold Challenge, falling to then-No. 11 Baylor. The Lady Vols (10-1) put forth a 4-1 showing at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. UT picked up a win over then-No. 18 Oklahoma State, but fell to Florida Atlantic.
South Carolina, which is off to a 9-1 start, joined the top-25, tied for 24th with Utah. McNeese State dropped out of the poll after a 2-3 weekend.
The 2018 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through Feb. 18.
