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Sports News: Spring 2002

Wednesday, April 17, 2002

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL MOVES UP TO 20th IN THE NATION

COLUMBIA, MO --- The Moravian College softball team, off to a 24-6 start this season, has moved up one spot to 20th in the nation in the second regular season USA Today/NFCA Division III Poll released Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Greyhounds, who opened the season with eight straight victories and had won 13 of their last 14 games before dropping a doubleheader to rival Muhlenberg College on Tuesday, received votes in the preseason poll and were ranked 21st in the first regular season poll.  Pacific Lutheran University, undefeated at 21-0, holds down the top spot.

Moravian has already played and defeated three teams ranked in the top 25.  The Greyhounds beat #18 Salisbury (MD) University, 1-0, on March 15th and the squad defeated #24 Christopher Newport (VA) University, 7-2 on March 8th.  Moravian split a doubleheader at #15 Rowan (NJ) University, lost 5-0 and won 3-1, on Thursday, April 4th and the Greyhounds will travel to #9 William Paterson (NJ) University on Thursday, April 25th.

This marks the third time in head coach John Byrne's nine seasons at Moravian that the Greyhounds have been ranked nationally.  The highest ranking the team has achieved was 19th in last year's first regular season poll.

 USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll
Released April 17, 2002 - 2nd regular season poll - Records as of April 14th

Rank School (first place votes) Record Points Previous Ranking

1.

Pacific Lutheran (WA) University (5)

21-0

195

3

2.  Muskingum (OH) College (1) 22-4 187 1
3. Central (IA) College (3) 23-3 182 2
4. Emory (GA) University 32-4 178 T4
5.  Wheaton (MA) College 19-5 160 T4
6. Roanoke (VA) College 31-3 153 6
7. University of La Verne (CA) 34-2-1 151  7
8. SUNY Cortland 19-5 145  9
9. William Paterson (NJ) University 20-6 136 16
10. Capital (OH) University 18-4-1 111 15
11. East Texas Baptist University 30-5 108 19
12.  Benedictine (IL) University 14-6 106 NR
13.  North Central (IL) College 19-6-1 101 10
14. Wartburg (IA) College 20-4 99 T17
15. Rowan (NJ) University 20-10 79 14
16. Ithaca (NY) College 19-9 76 12
17. Alma (MI) College 19-6 72 13
18. Salisbury (MD) University 28-7 69 20
19.  Tufts (MA) University 16-7 63 T17
20. Moravian College 24-4 49 21
21. US Coast Guard Academy (CT) 24-5 47 NR
22. Simpson (IA) College 19-7 27 NR
23. St. John Fisher (NY) College 18-2-1 25 22
24. Christopher Newport (VA) University 28-9 21 25
25. University of St. Thomas (MN)  19-5 15 NR

Also receiving votes: Augustana (IL) College (13); Methodist (NC) College (12); The College of New Jersey (9); SUNY Geneseo (3); Albion (MI) College (2); Illinois Wesleyan University (2); University of Puget Sound (WA) (2); St. Mary's (MN) University (1); Western Connecticut State University (1).