Fresno State Athletics
Softball Moves Up to No. 8 in Coaches Poll
2/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2001
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FRESNO, Calif. - In the first regular-season poll released this morning, Fresno State softball moved up a notch from No. 9 to No. 8 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll is voted by 27 Division I softball coaches representing all areas around the country. The poll will be released every Wednesday morning during the softball season and can be found on the NFCA website at www.nfca.org and in the sports agate section of USA Today.
Fresno State softball has been nationally ranked in the Top 20 polls the last 19 straight seasons since the NCAA released its first poll in 1983 (NCAA Top 15). The Bulldogs have been nationally ranked every week for 150 consecutive weeks and have been ranked in the Top 10 in 145 of those 150 weeks. As the only program at Fresno State to boast such a streak, the 150-week consecutive ranked streak is unknown by the NCAA if it is the longest in collegiate softball.
The Bulldogs will be participating in one of the nation's toughest tournaments this weekend in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., at South Commons Stadium and South Commons Complex. Fifteen Top 25 teams will compete this weekend and 16 advanced to postseason play in 2000. Last year's champion and runner-up, Washington and Fresno State, will be part of a stellar field that will also showcase 2000 NCAA Women's College World Series champion Oklahoma.
The tournament format consists of six, four-team pools. Following pool play, the top team from each pool, along with two at-large teams, will advance to the Gold Championship Bracket. The remaining four second-place teams along with four at-large teams will be placed in the Silver Championship bracket and the remaining eight teams will be assigned to the Bronze Championship bracket. All brackets are single elimination. Each team will play a minimum of five games (three pool, two bracket) regardless of pool or bracket assignments.
Fresno State will open tournament action with Missouri and #18 Michigan on Friday, Feb. 23, at 2:00 p.m. (PST) and 4:30 p.m. (PST), respectively. On Saturday, the Bulldogs conclude pool play with Georgia at 7:00 a.m. Bracket play begins later in the day at 2:30 p.m. (PST) and 5:00 p.m. (PST). On Sunday, Feb. 25, bracket play times are 6:00 a.m. (PST) and 8:30 a.m. (PST) with the championship game slated for 11:00 a.m. (PST).
In addition, fans will be able to listen to all the action live from Columbus, Ga., this weekend. KFSR 90.7 FM will broadcast all the games live on the web which can be heard on the school's official athletic web site at www.gobulldogs.com. Still further, Fresno State's first two games against Missouri and #18 Michigan can also be heard live on the radio. Sports director Joe Morgan will call all the games.
Go for Blood: Take the Jenny Eller Fresno State Softball Blood "Drive" Challenge
Hit a line drive to the Blood Center and get a voucher for $2 off any 2001 home game during the regular season. This life-giving gift can be given at any donor center or blood drive in Central California now through April 28, 2001.
