National College Softball Editor Justin McLeod’s “Mid-Major” Top 10 is here following Week 3 action.
The Ragin Cajuns maintain their position at the top of the list; despite falling twice to Texas in Austin this weekend, the Cajuns remain a strong team and did pick up a win over McNeese in a mid-week showing after the Austin tournament.
Central Arkansas moves into their highest position of the year following an upset over Arkansas on Monday night. The Bears lost a heartbreaking pitcher’s duel to South Dakota in their home tournament this weekend, a bad loss, but the Bears remain a strong program with quality pitching.
Leading the MM Top 10 with 21 wins, Grand Canyon also checks in in their highest position of the year. The Lopes have lost just twice on the year and earned wins over Charlotte, Boise State, and Michigan State this weekend.
On their annual west coast swing, Boston checks in at #4 after a 5-2 showing through their first seven games in California. The Terriers split with Long Beach State and San Diego State and run-ruled Cal State Fullerton in a shutout win.
A rough weekend in Arizona dropped Charlotte in this week’s MM Top 10, but the Niners enjoyed a major win over Arizona State during their trip to the desert. The Niners are slightly above the .500 mark after a Wednesday loss to Duke, but their losses are generally quality defeats.
North Texas was 2-3 in a tournament at Arkansas this weekend, beating Iowa State twice while dropping a pair of games to Arkansas and a single matchup against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Southern Illinois Salukis are quietly winning ball games, posting a 4-0 record this weekend in their second-consecutive home tournament. They’re riding an active nine-game winning streak.
Checking in at #8 in this week’s rankings is Cal State Fullerton, one of the most enigmatic mid-major programs in the nation. The Titans are 11-11 overall with some dynamite wins to their credit, but are 2-5 in March including the run-rule at the hands of Boston.
Omaha returns to the MM Top 10 after a 4-1 weekend showing; the Mavs lost to Central Arkansas in Conway, but recorded a pair of wins over a rejuvenated Iowa team.
Rounding out the Week 4 MM Top 10 is Nevada, making their second appearance of the season in the rankings. The Wolfpack recorded four shutouts in five games down in Florida, outscoring opponents 42-3.
ALSO NOTE:
After a slow start, Murray State has rebounded to 12-7 record that included a win over Mississippi State last weekend… Stetson continued their string of major upsets with a win over Georgia in Athens… Marshall is off to the best start in program history with a 17-3 record… Liberty is above .500 for the first time this season; after starting 1-9 with one-run losses to teams like Oklahoma and UCLA, the Flames are riding a 9-game winning streak.
