Patriot Softball cracks Top 25 poll

The Francis Marion University women's softball team entered the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll for the first time this season at the No. 25 position in the poll released on Wednesday (April 28).

The Patriots, who concluded their regular season with a 34-14 record and an appearance in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game, are in a holding pattern as they await the May 10 announcement of the Division II National Tournament field.

Francis Marion is also ranked fourth in this week’s all-important NCAA Southeast Region poll.  The region poll is a deciding factor in the selection of the eight teams from this area that make the national tournament.

The Patriots have won at least 30 games in 11 of the past 13 seasons.  Under the direction of head coach Stacey Vallee, FMU has a balanced attack ranking 78th nationally in batting average (.305), 72nd in scoring (5.25 runs per game), and 71st in team earned run average (2.60).  The squad also ranks 46th in team fielding percentage (.963).  Approximately 300 schools sponsor Division II softball.

PBC champion North Georgia College & State University (45-0) continues to sit atop the Division II Top 25 poll.