FMU ranked 5th in pre-season softball poll

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC - The Francis Marion University women's softball team is ranked fifth in the pre-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, the same spot where the Patriots ended the 2008 season.

The No. 5 position is the highest ranking for the Patriot program since the school moved to NCAA affiliation in 1992.

In 2008, Francis Marion enjoyed its most successful season in 20 years posting a 39-16 record, the third-highest win total in team history. The Patriots earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament, won the South Atlantic Regional, and advanced to the Division II national finals (Elite Eight) in Houston, Texas.

Francis Marion returns 14 letterwinners, in cluding six position starters, from last year’s squad. The Patriots open their season Feb. 7-8 at the early Bird Tournament in Aiken. FMU will face 12th-ranked Kutztown University (10 a.m.), Erskine College (2 p.m.), and Limestone College (4 p.m.) on the opening day.

Altogether, four squads that appear on FMU’s upcoming 2009 schedule are listed in the pre-season poll. Lock Haven University (49-8) tops the poll, while defending national champion Humboldt State University (57-18) is ranked second.

The Patriot program’s highest national ranking occurred in 1988 when Francis Marion was ranked No. 1 in the pre-season NAIA poll.


NFCA Division II 2009 Pre-Season Top 25 Poll

No Team RECORD PTS LAST
1 Lock Haven (6) 49-8 388 3
2 Humboldt State (10) 57-18 374 1
3 St. Edward's 53-17 358 4
4 Barry 44-8 333 7
5 Francis Marion 39-16 332 T5
6 Ferris State 35-18 331 T5
7 LIU-C.W. Post 48-16 278 8
8 Southeastern Oklahoma 53-12 275 T9
9 Winona State 38-15 254 15
10 Tampa 35-13 229 T12
11 North Georgia 38-15 228 T12
12 Kutztown 48-13 226 18
13 Lewis 38-18 177 RV
14 Cal State Stanislaus 31-23 164 RV
15 Bloomsburg 51-11 146 T9
16 St. Leo 37-15 123 19
17 Georgian Court 39-16 120 25
18 Colorado School of Mines 38-19 117 NR
19 Central Missouri 36-22 112 NR
20 Georgia College & State 40-14 88 NR
21 Angelo State 48-12 85 17
22 Alabama-Huntsville 52-9 74 24
23 Minnesota State Mankato 42-16 67 21
24 Caldwell College 35-22 66 16
25 Emporia State 48-17 62 2