OSU Ranked by Both Polls Heading to Pac-12 Play
March 15, 2016 | Softball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State softball team is nationally ranked for the third consecutive week, and for the first time this season is ranked by both major polls, entering the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches' Poll at No. 25, while moving up one spot to No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
Oregon State (20-4-1) has been ranked as high as at No. 22 this season, earning that ranking in the March 1 ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, the Beavers' first national ranking since the 2013 season and their first by that poll since May 13, 2012.
The Beavers received 61 votes in this week's ESPN.com/USA Softball poll to leap now-No. 24 Fresno State (15-6-1), which is receiving 42 votes. The Beavers are behind No. 22 Minnesota (16-7), which is receiving 97 votes.
OSU received 53 votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA poll to move to No. 25 after nearly entering the poll in each of the past couple of weeks. The Beavers were last ranked by the poll on April 2, 2013 at No. 24. The Beavers are 22 votes behind No. 24 Fresno State, and six ahead of UCF, which is receiving 47 votes.
Including Oregon State, six Pac-12 schools remain nationally ranked through this point. The other five conference members receiving national rankings are No. 7/9 Oregon (20-4), No. 8/7 Washington (19-3), No.14/17 UCLA (17-8), No. 18 Arizona (18-8) and No. 21 Arizona State (21-7).
Oregon State's 20-4-1 record this season ranks third in the Pac-12 by winning percentage behind only Washington's 19-3 mark and Oregon's 20-4 record.
Last time out, Oregon State swept the Matador Classic, defeating host CSUN, along with Grand Canyon, Toledo and San Diego. The Beavers open Pac-12 play this weekend at Utah (16-8), opening the series with noon PT (1 p.m. MT) games on Saturday and Sunday, and close the series with an 11 a.m. PT (noon MT) matchup on Monday.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OregonStateSB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateSB or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateSB.
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