WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Red-hot Midwestern State finally cracked into the Top 10 of the National Fast-pitch Coaches' Association Division II Poll moving up three spots to No. 9 in the new rankings released Wednesday morning.
The Mustangs are on a 13-game tear and - for the second straight year - lead the nation in wins with a 22-1 mark. The record represents the best start in program history.
The Mustangs, who advanced to the Super Region finals and were a win away from the World Series, are one of three Lone Star Conference teams ranked in the Top 10.
Angelo State (20-1) retained the No. 1 position despite dropping its first game of the season last week, while West Texas A&M (17-1) maintained its spot at No. 6.
Missouri Western (13-3 ) and Nebraska-Omaha (10-4) from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association give the rugged South Central Region two more members in the poll at Nos. 20 and 22, respectively.
Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference North Division play with a three-game set at Southeastern Oklahoma State this weekend.
The teams play a single game beginning at 3 p.m. Friday at SOSU Field before closing the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.
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NFCA Division II Preseason Poll
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March 9, 2011
|
| Rank |
School |
Record |
Points |
Previous |
| 1 |
Angelo State (Texas) (13) |
20-1 |
391 |
1 |
| 2 |
North Georgia (1) |
20-2 |
377 |
3 |
| 3 |
Valdosta State (Ga.) (2) |
7-1 |
372 |
2 |
| 4 |
Alabama-Huntsville |
9-0-1 |
341 |
4 |
| 5 |
Hawaii Pacific |
11-3 |
321 |
5 |
| 6 |
West Texas A&M |
17-1 |
307 |
6 |
| 7 |
Indianapolis (Ind.) |
8-1-1 |
291 |
7 |
| 8 |
Winona State (Minn.) |
10-0 |
274 |
11 |
| 9 |
Midwestern State (Texas) |
22-1 |
255 |
13 |
| 10 |
Calfornia-San Diego |
19-3 |
247 |
10 |
| 11 |
Arkansas-Monticello |
16-1 |
237 |
12 |
| 12 |
Kutztown (Pa.) |
13-1 |
201 |
21 |
| 13 |
Augustana (S.D.) |
9-0 |
196 |
14 |
| 14 |
Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) |
15-5 |
182 |
15 |
| 15 |
Tampa (Fla.) |
16-2 |
168 |
16 |
| 16 |
Lock Haven (Pa.) |
7-1 |
161 |
17 |
| 17 |
Rollins (Fla.) |
9-1 |
124 |
18 |
| 18 |
Western Washington |
9-0 |
111 |
23 |
| 19 |
Dowling (N.Y.) |
0-0 |
106 |
19 |
| 20 |
Missouri Western |
13-3 |
89 |
RV |
| 21 |
Flagler (Fla.) |
21-3 |
81 |
22 |
| 22 |
Nebraska-Omaha |
10-4 |
70 |
9 |
| 23 |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
14-1 |
70 |
9 |
| 24 |
Bloomsburg (Pa.) |
5-3 |
57 |
8 |
| 25 |
Saginaw Valley (Mich.) |
6-2 |
37 |
RV |
| Others Receving Votes: Molloy 29, Armstrong Atlantic 26, Lewis 24, California (Pa.) 15, Ashland 15, Southern Connecticut 12, Sonoma State 11, Augusta State 6, Caldwell 3, Concordia-St. Paul 2. |
| Dropped out: No. 20 Ashland, No. 24 Lews, No. 25 Molloy |
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-- MSUMustangs.com --
