Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Moves Up To #27 In NFCA Poll
03/12/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 12, 2003
Colorado Springs, Colo. - Southern Illinois University moved up to #27 in the recent National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll with 14 votes. SIU is one of two mid-major teams to get votes in the NFCA Top 25 poll.
"I think we have some people's respect. The pollsters saw that we went 1-2 last week but lost to #3 Nebraska and Troy State, who beat Nebraska. They're both good teams. I think it was huge to sweep a good UAB team on Tuesday to keep us on people's minds. This is by far the longest we have been ranked and it's big for the program," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
The NFCA ranking the last four weeks is the longest SIU has been in a national poll in school history. The ranking four weeks ago was the first since the late 1990s, when SIU was ranked in the thirties in the NFCA poll.
SIU fell out the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll this week. The Salukis were ranked #31 last week in the new poll.
The Salukis beat Miami (OH) 3-0 at the Tallahassee Democrat Invitational after a 4-0 loss to #3 Nebraska and a 1-0 loss in nine innings to Troy State.
SIU swept UAB 3-2 and 5-3 on the road Tuesday to improve to 11-3 in non-conference play. SIU opens league play with a weekend series against Bradley in the first games at Charlotte West Stadium-Rochman Field. The Saturday doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m.
