College Rankings: UCLA’s Remains #1 in Both Major Polls Despite Loss to Texas (Mar. 3, 2020)

UCLA kept the top spot despite losing to then #3 Texas last Thursday while the Longhorns turned around and beat two other teams in the Top 25, previous #2 Washington as well as then #11 Michigan, at the tourney.

Here’s the latest from the two polls Extra Inning Softball tracks for DI college softball (USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball)…

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UCLA remains on top of 2020 USA Today/NFCA D1 Top 25 Coaches Poll

 Despite suffering its first loss of the season, UCLA remained No. 1 in the 2020USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bruins (19-1), who dropped an extra-inning affair to Texas, captured 26 first-place votes and 793 points.

After falling 6-4 in eight innings to No. 3 Texas, UCLA posted a 4-0 mark against Mount St. Mary’s, Weber State, San Diego State and San Diego.

New to the top-25 this week are No. 22 UCF, No. 24 Mississippi State and No. 25 Fresno State. The Knights (16-2), who are on an 11-game winning streak, and the 25^th-ranked Bulldogs (16-4) return to the poll for the first time since 2016 and 2017, respectively.

🚨#⃣2⃣5⃣🚨@NFCAorg #GoDogs | #PrideOfTheValley pic.twitter.com/iSKuY5sSzm

— Fresno State Softball (@FresnoStateSB) March 3, 2020

On the flip side, Tennessee dropped out of the top-25 for the first time since 2004. The Lady Vols (9-7) entered the NFCA’s Feb. 10 poll at No. 19 and were ranked consecutively in 255 polls.

No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas picked up four and two first-place votes, respectively. In the matchup between those two squads, the Longhorns (20-3) edged the Huskies (19-2) 8-6 at the Judi Garman Classic. It was UW’s only defeat at the Garman as it topped then-No. 4 LSU, Fresno State, then-No. 13 Michigan and Cal State Fullerton.

Texas posted a 5-2 week with previously-mentioned triumphs over UCLA and Washington. The Longhorns also defeated Michigan and Boise State at the Garman, while dropping a one-run affair to Fresno State. Prior to heading out west, UT split a home twinbill with then-No. 10 Louisiana.

Following a 5-0 showing, including two wins over host Alabama at the Easton Crimson Classic, Arizona rose to No. 4. The Wildcats (17-3) topped the then-No. 8 Crimson Tide in a pair of one-run contests. They also defeated McNeese State twice and UT Arlington.

On Sunday, @CoachCandreaUA won career game 1⃣6⃣2⃣8⃣, moving into fourth place all-time in @NCAA Division I history across all sports!

His 1,628 victories are currently tied with Michigan's Carol Hutchins as the most in @NCAAsoftball history. #Legends pic.twitter.com/F5yWyW2MPZ

— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) March 3, 2020

LSU fell one spot to No. 5 after a 3-2 outing at the Garman. The Tigers (16-3) picked up wins over then-No 25 Texas Tech, California and Colorado State, but dropped contests against Loyola Marymount and Washington.

No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 7 Florida and No. 9 Alabama each fell one position, while No. 8 Louisiana moved up two spots. The Sooners (15-4) won their Courtyard Marriott Tournament, topping then-RV Northwestern twice and Abilene Christian to go along with a split with RV North Texas.

In a top-10 matchup in Gainesville, the Ragin’ Cajuns (14-5) took two-of-three from the Gators (17-4). UF opened with a 6-0 win before Louisiana stormed back with 7-5 and 7-6 triumphs. The Ragin’ Cajuns also earned a road split earlier in the week at No. 3 Texas.

FINAL (at Florida) | WHAT. A. COMEBACK ‼️

𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔 (14-5) plates six runs in its final two at bats to 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 in Gainesville. 🤟🥎

📊 https://t.co/JfsQFc8WD0#GeauxCajuns ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/pCrIlcbIAc

— Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns® Softball (@RaginCajunsSB) March 1, 2020

Kentucky enters the fold at No. 10. The Wildcats (17-3) put on an offensive show, while its pitching staff posted three shutouts at the Spring Games. Matching the program’s best 20-game start, UK scored 66 runs over five games, while allowing just three.

The 2020 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through March 1 with first-place votes in parentheses.

2020 USA Today / NFCA Division I
Top 25 Coaches Poll – March 3 (Week 4)

New to Poll: No. 22 UCF, No. 24 Mississippi State, No. 25 Fresno State
Dropped Out: No. 20 Tennessee (9-7), No. 24 James Madison (9-4), No. 25 Texas Tech (11-9).
Receiving Votes: North Texas (47), Utah (43), Tennessee (41), James Madison (27), Stanford (27), San Jose State (21), Texas Tech (19), Oregon State (12), Clemson (10), Houston (9), Notre Dame (5), Duke (3), Loyola Marymount (3), Villanova (2), Wisconsin (2), Tulsa (1).

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ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll – Week 4

No. 1 UCLA (19-1) remains at the top spot for the third straight week on the Week 4 ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll. The Bruins’ 23-game winning streak came to an end after a 4-6 loss to then-No. 3 Texas, but bounced back with four wins in the San Diego Classic.

RECAP: Three Pitchers Combine on Six-Hit Shutout of San Diegohttps://t.co/2uceyZuBrH#GoBruins

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) March 2, 2020

No. 2 Texas (20-3) jumps one spot in the poll with wins over then-No. 1 UCLA and then-No. 2 Washington. Texas lost to then-RV Fresno State and then-No. 11 Michigan along with the win against Washington at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. after splitting a two-game series with then-No. 9 Louisiana and the win over UCLA.

No. 3 Washington (19-2) drops a spot with their lone loss also at the hands of Texas. Washington posted wins over Cal State Fullerton, then-RV Fresno State, then-No. 4 LSU and then-No. 11 Michigan at the Judi Garman Classic.

LSU (16-3) remains at No. 4 in the poll despite losses to Loyola Marymount and then-No. 2 Washington at the Judi Garman Classic. The Tigers gathered three victories in Fullerton against Cal, Colorado State, and then-No. 24 Texas Tech.

No. 5 Arizona (17-3) rises into the Top 5 after a one week absence with two wins over then-No. 12 Alabama and two wins over McNeese State along with a victory against UT-Arlington at the Crimson Tide’s Easton Crimson Classic.

ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25

2020 Season – Week 4 – March 3, 2020

Parenthesis denotes first place votes.

Dropped Out: James Madison, Tennessee, Texas Tech
New to Poll: Mississippi State, UCF, Utah
Others receiving votes: Fresno State (45), North Texas (24), Stanford (24), Louisville (17), San Jose State (16), Oregon State (13), Tennessee (13), South Florida (11), Texas Tech (8), Wisconsin (8), Cal State Fullerton (7), Duke (5), James Madison (5), Villanova (5), Notre Dame (3), Auburn (1)