3-15-2011 Georgia Tops USA Softball Poll

Georgia on top of ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –  After spending time in the Top Five this whole season, the University of Georgia (21-2, 3-0 SEC) has laid claim to the No. 1 ranking in week five of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll. Georgia becomes the fifth school to be ranked No.1 this year, proving the parity of the sport is alive and well.

Georgia was ranked as high as second this season but clinched the top spot this week after sweeping then-No.21 LSU in a three-game SEC series. Georgia outscored LSU (15-10, 0-5 SEC), 26-3, which included two five- inning games. LSU dropped to No. 25 after losing five straight games in SEC play. 

Although Florida (25-1, 2-0) received eight first-place votes to Georgia’s seven, they fell to No. 3 after going 6-1 on the weekend. Their lone loss came against then-No.20 Nebraska, 1-0, a team that moved up to No. 17. 

The only undefeated team left in the Top 25, Washington (19-0), moved into the Top Five at No. 4 after turning in a 3-0 weekend hosting the Husky Softball Classic. No. 5 Arizona State (24-1) advanced two spots while No. 7 Arizona (21-4) fell out of the Top Five for the first time this season with an even record of 2-2 this past week.  No. 15 Baylor (22-3) made the biggest leap of the week, after spending last week ranked at 22. Baylor earned two wins in the three-game series against Arizona including a 6-0 shutout.

Houston (16-9) fell out of the Top 25 with an 0-4 record over the week while Auburn (22-2, 3-0) re-entered the Top 25 with a 6-0 week including a sweep of SEC-foe Arkansas.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25

March 15 – March 7-13, 2011 – Week Five

Parenthesis Denotes first place votes.

Dropped Out:  Houston
New to Poll: Auburn

Others receiving votes:  Notre Dame (15); DePaul (12); Fresno State (6); UAB (5); Georgia Tech (4); Syracuse (4); BYU (2); SC Upstate (2); Long Beach (1)