Bearcats are Ranked #16 Nationally in NCAA Division III

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team moved up one spot this week to #16 in the NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Wednesday, April 7. Willamette is 19-6 overall, including 11-2 in the Northwest Conference.

Louisiana College, 29-1, remained #1 and received all eight first place votes for 200 points in the poll. East Texas Baptist University, 23-3, advanced once position to #2 with 191 points. The University of Texas-Tyler, 20-4, dropped one spot to #3 with 184 points.

Christopher Newport University (Va.), 28-6, stayed at #4 with 165 points. Ohio Northern University, 19-1, moved up one place to #5 in the poll with 159 points.

Willamette's #16 ranking was the highest for a team on the West Coast. Also ranked in the Top 25 was NWC rival Linfield College, 19-5, at #19. Linfield leads the current NWC standings at 12-1 in conference play. The Bearcats will take on the Wildcats in a four-game series April 17-18 in McMinnville, Ore.

The University of Redlands (Calif.) from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) received votes in the poll, but was not in the Top 25.

Willamette will host George Fox University this weekend at the WU Softball Field. The Bearcats and the Bruins are scheduled to play two games on Saturday, April 10 at 12 p.m. (PDT), followed by another doubleheader on Sunday, April 11, also at 12 p.m.