USAO Ranked 9^th in Final Softball Poll

Fresh off a second-place finish in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament, the USAO softball team retained its No. 9 ranking in the final NAIA softball poll of the season. The survey was released late Wednesday on the NAIA Web site.

Currently, USAO is 48-18 overall after wins over St. Gregory’s and Oklahoma City and a loss to Houston Baptist at the NAIA Region VI tournament in Farmers Branch, Texas. The Drovers are scheduled to face St. Gregory’s again in the losers-bracket finals at noon Friday. With a win, USAO moves on to face Houston Baptist in the championship game.

USAO is among four Region VI teams in the top 15 of the poll. Houston Baptist (45-2) is ranked No. 2, and received two first-place votes. Oklahoma City (44-14) is No. 7, followed by USAO. Bacone (31-15) is ranked No. 15, down two spots from last week’s poll. Neither St. Gregory’s nor Oklahoma Christian is ranked in the poll.

Thomas, Ga., is ranked No. 1 in the final poll at 40-5 overall, and received 10 first-place votes. University of Mobile, Ala., (43-8) was tabbed at No. 3, followed by California Baptist (44-5) at No. 4. Simon Fraser, B.C., the defending national champion, (27-7) comes in at No. 5.

The second half of the top 10 includes No. 6 Point Loma Nazarene, Calif., No. 7 OCU, No. 8 North Georgia, No. 9 USAO, and No. 10 Columbia, Mo. The complete poll is available on the NAIA Website.