Moravian College Athletics

Sports News: Spring 2001

Wednesday, April 4, 2001

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL RANKED 19^TH IN THE NATION

BETHLEHEM, PA --- For the first time in school history, the Moravian College softball team has earned a national ranking as the Greyhounds are ranked 19^th in the first National Softball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll of the season released Wednesday.

Moravian, which has a 19-5 overall record and a 4-2 slate in the Commonwealth Conference, had received votes in the preseason poll as well as the top 25 in 2000 but the team had never been in the top 25.

The Greyhounds have played three other ranked team this season, defeating #3 Pacific Lutheran (WA) University, 9-1 in five inning at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and losing to #7 Cabrini College, 4-0 in the NFCA Leadoff Classic and 3-2 in eight innings at the Salisbury State University Sea Gull Invitational, and the University of La Verne (CA), 1-0 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Moravian will finish its 2001 regular season with a doubleheader at #12 William Paterson (NJ) University.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 is voted on by eight Division III softball coaches representing the eight NCAA Division III regions. First place votes are in parentheses. Records are through games of Sunday, April 1.

	School	Record	Pts.	Preseason Ranking
1.	St. Mary's (MN) University (7)	6-2	198	1
2.	Alma (MI) College	18-7	183	8
3.	Pacific Lutheran (WA) University	10-8	167	5
4.	Central (IA) College (1)	19-4	166	7
5.	(tie) Salisbury State (MD) University	21-5	156	18
	Springfield (MA) College	11-4	156	20
7.	Cabrini (PA) College	16-2	150	NR
8.	North Central (IL) College	14-2	142	NR
9.	Western Connecticut State University	11-1	135	17
10.	Roanoke (VA) College	19-4	116	11
11.	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	10-4	104	6
12.	William Paterson (NJ) University	16-2	103	15
13.	Muskingum (OH) College	13-5	101	3
14.	Chapman (CA) University	21-7	100	2
15.	Cal State University at Hayward	10-9	98	NR
16.	Bridgewater State (MA) College	8-9	83	16
17.	Ithaca (NY) College	7-6	69	10
18.	University of Chicago (IL)	9-1	61	NR
19.	Moravian (PA) College	18-4	56	NR
20.	Emory (GA) University	29-11	50	NR
21.	University of La Verne (CA)	24-7	47	NR
22.	University of St. Thomas (MN)	11-3	39	19
23.	Wheaton (MA) College	14-3	31	NR
24.	Denison (OH) University	12-2	27	NR
25.	(tie) SUNY Geneseo	10-5	14	NR
	Virginia Wesleyan College	14-5	14	NR

Dropped Out: Bridgewater (VA), College of New Jersey, Hope (MI), Mount Union (OH), Rowan (NJ), Simpson (IA), Tufts (MA), Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Willamette (OR).

Others Receiving Votes: Montclair State (NJ) 12, Illinois Wesleyan 10, Christopher Newport (VA) 5, Williams (MA) 5, Simpson (IA) 3, Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) 2, Tufts (MA) 1.