LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thanks to a 9-0 start, Carson-Newman softball has attained its highest national ranking in more than a decade.
The Eagles entered the NFCA Top 25 at No. 11 in the second iteration of the coaches' poll. It marks the first time Carson-Newman has been ranked in the top 15 in the country since 2008. The Eagles closed out that year with a school record for wins and a No. 6 national ranking. That's the highest Carson-Newman has ever been ranked in NCAA history. C-N was ranked fourth in 1992 while the Eagles were still NAIA members.
This marks the first time Carson-Newman has been ranked in a year. The Eagles were 25th in the second ranking of 2018 after starting last season ranked No. 20 in the country.
Carson-Newman swept then No. 13 Young Harris to open the year. The Mountain Lions are still nationally-ranked, situated 18th in this week's iteration. The Eagles are the second-highest ranked team in the Southeast behind perennial power North Georgia. The Nighthawks are third with a 12-3 record.
No other South Atlantic Conference schools, or Carson-Newman opponents are ranked, however, Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne are both receiving votes and fall just outside the top 25.
Carson-Newman is two wins away from matching the third best start in program history. The 2007 team opened the year 11-0.
When those games will be played is yet to be seen. The Eagles Thursday doubleheader with Lees-McRae has been washed out due to wet weather. Carson-Newman is scheduled to take on West Virginia State Saturday at noon at The Vick, but rain remains in the forecast for that day as well.
The 1994 team started 19-0, while the 1993 team ran through the regular season unbeaten, 24-0, before falling to Elon in the SAC tournament for the best start in program history.
Reigning SAC and TSWA Player of the Week Abby Fiessinger (Benton, Ky.) has been on a tear. The junior has hit successfully in eight straight at-bats. Two more, and she'll become the 21st player in NCAA Division II history to collect a hit in double-digit at-bats consecutively. Fiessinger leads the SAC with a .615 batting average.
The Eagles have gotten there with a power-hitting team that straight up hits dingers. C-N has already walloped 17 on the year, the third most in the country and the most in the South Atlantic Conference.
The Eagles are on pace to break the 2013 team's single-season home run record of 49. At the current pace, the Eagles could smash past that record by mid to late-March.
Carson-Newman is next in action Saturday against West Virginia State. First pitch is set for noon. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
Points |
Previous |
|
1 |
Angelo State (8) |
13-1 |
381 |
6 |
|
2 |
Saint Anselm (4) |
5-0 |
374 |
4 |
|
3 |
North Georgia (3) |
12-3 |
356 |
3 |
|
4 |
Southern Arkansas (1) |
9-3 |
348 |
2 |
|
5 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
12-1 |
336 |
9 |
|
6 |
Chico State |
6-1 |
321 |
7 |
|
7 |
Valdosta State |
10-2 |
303 |
22 |
|
8 |
Tarleton State |
11-2 |
283 |
14 |
|
9 |
Concordia Irvine |
4-1 |
279 |
10 |
|
10 |
West Florida |
13-1 |
244 |
|
|
11 |
Carson-Newman |
9-0 |
230 |
|
|
12 |
Illinois Springfield |
6-2 |
222 |
12 |
|
13 |
Dixie State |
6-1 |
191 |
17 |
|
14 |
Florida Tech |
10-2 |
183 |
|
|
15 |
Winona State |
0-0 |
176 |
15 |
|
16 |
Grand Valley State |
0-0 |
160 |
16 |
|
17 |
UC San Diego |
9-2 |
147 |
23 |
|
18 |
Young Harris |
7-3 |
144 |
13 |
|
19 |
Central Oklahoma |
13-1 |
128 |
|
|
20 |
UAH |
10-5 |
80 |
11 |
|
21 |
Cal State San Bernadino |
7-0 |
72 |
|
|
22 |
Colorado Mesa |
7-3 |
56 |
21 |
|
23 |
Southern New Hampshire |
5-1 |
50 |
|
|
24 |
Gannon |
0-0 |
32 |
24 |
|
25 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
5-3 |
31 |
25 |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
Newberry (27), Saint Leo (17), Arkansas Tech (16), Harding (6), Lenoir-Rhyne (6), Oklahoma Christian (1).
DROPPED OUT:
No. 1 Southern Indiana (3-5), No. 5 Saint Leo (7-7), No. 8 West Chester (0-5), No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic (5-6), No. 19 Lenoir-Rhyne (6-5), No. 20 Arkansas Tech (6-6).