Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Softball Ranked 29th & 31st In Both National Polls
03/05/2003 | 12:00:00 | Softball
March 5, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Despite not playing for two weeks, Southern Illinois University moved up to #31 in the second ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll released Tuesday. The Salukis picked up four votes and are one of two mid-major schools recognized in the poll.
"I am glad that we are still receiving votes in both polls after not playing for a while. I think this shows that we have respect from the voters for our early success and this trip will allow us to continue to earn respect if we do well," said Kerri Blaylock, SIU head coach.
The SIU softball team is also ranked #29 for the third straight week in today's National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll, maintaining their 15 votes. The NFCA ranking three weeks ago was the first since the late 1990s, when SIU was ranked in the thirties in the NFCA poll.
SIU enters the weekend 8-1 including a win over #20 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 two weeks ago. SIU opened the season 4-0 with a championship at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla. on Feb. 7-9.
SIU can make its case to enter the Top 25 if the Salukis can play well at the Tallahassee Democrat Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. The Salukis open the Tallahassee Democrat Invitational against #3 Nebraska on Friday, March 7 at 11:00 a.m. The 16-team tournament, which includes four ranked teams, runs from March 7-9 at Florida State University.
