Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Ranked #34 In First ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll
02/26/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
Feb. 26, 2003
Oklahoma City, Okla. - Southern Illinois University is ranked #34 in the first ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll released today. The Salukis picked up seven votes to earn recognition in the first edition of the 2003 poll. It's the second national softball poll SIU has received votes in this season.
"This is the first ESPN.com poll ever and the fact that they are recognizing softball is great. For SIU to get recognition in the first poll they release is good for the program and shows that people are paying attention to us nationally," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
The softball team is also ranked #29 for the second straight week in today's National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll after picking up 15 votes once again. The ranking NFCA ranking was the first since the late 1990s, when SIU was ranked in the thirties in the NFCA poll.
SIU is 8-1 including a win over #14 Alabama (#22 at the time) and a 3-1 11-inning loss to Alabama in the championship game of the Bama Bash. The Salukis were 4-1 at the Bama Bash. SIU opened the season 4-0 with a championship at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla.
The softball team has cancelled it's home opener against Syracuse on Friday as well as the Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic, which was scheduled to run all day on March 1-2.
SIU's next scheduled games are at the Tallahassee Democrat Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. The Salukis open the Tallahassee Democrat Invitational against #3 Nebraska on March 7 at 11:00 a.m.
