The pollsters weren’t quite sure what to make of Arizona softball last week. Both of the major coaches polls moved the Wildcats up while the two media polls dropped them.
The NFCA and USA Softball have UA at No. 14 after a 3-2 weekend in the Bay Area and a midweek home victory over Nevada. Arizona beat Santa Clara, Boise State, and then-No. 12 Stanford in the DeMarini Invitational. It lost twice to No. 3 Texas, getting beat 12-2 both times. In the NFCA poll, that was an improvement of one spot. USA Softball voters
moved Arizona up two spots.
The voters at D1 Softball and Softball America were less impressed by the week’s outing. D1 dropped the ‘Cats one spot to No. 16. SA dropped them three spots to No. 19, the lowest of the four polls.
The average ranking for Arizona in the four polls is 15.75.
The Wildcats are second among Big 12 teams in two of the polls. Texas Tech comes in at No. 2 in three of the four. D1 Softball has the Red Raiders in third. In both the NFCA and USA Softball polls, that is the only Big 12 team ahead of Arizona.
D1 Softball and Softball America both have Oklahoma State ranked above Arizona. The Cowgirls are No. 21 in NFCA, No. 16 in USA Softball, No. 15 in D1 Softball, and No. 13 in Softball American.
Arizona State is the other Big 12 team in this week’s rankings. The Sun Devils are ranked by all but Softball America. They are fourth among the conference teams in the other three. Both NFCA and D1 Softball have them at No. 24. USA Softball places them 23rd.
The Wildcats have their final preconference tournament this week when they host the Hillenbrand Invitational. They host Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 26 to kick things off. Long Beach State and Minnesota are up \on Friday. Howard and Arizona play on Saturday, then it’s the Wildcats and the Long Beach State again on Sunday.
Big 12 play gets underway with Arizona hosting BYU beginning Thursday, Mar. 5 at Hillenbrand Stadium.
