UA softball team drops from No. 1 spot in national rankings

By Tommy Deas

Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama softball team dropped from the top of the rankings in both major poll in the wake of the Crimson Tide's first defeat of the season.

Alabama, which lost to Washington 6-3 in Seattle last Saturday, fell to No. 2 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and to No. 3 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.

Alabama (17-1) garnered 10 of a possible 27 first-place votes in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll, more than any other team, but was narrowly beaten out by Arizona State (21-1) for the top spot. Texas A&M (22-3), Tennessee (19-1) and Florida (24-1) rounded out the top five.

Arizona State and UCLA (18-2) were ranked first and second, respectively, in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, with Arizona State getting 10 of a possible 20 first-place votes and UCLA and Alabama each getting four first-place votes. Texas A&M was ranked fourth, followed by Florida and Tennessee.

Alabama will visit UAB on Thursday at George Ward Park in Birmingham for a 6:30 p.m. game. The Tide will host Tennessee on Saturday and Sunday at the Alabama Softball Complex for a three-game series to open Southeastern Conference play. A doubleheader on Saturday will start at 1 p.m., with a single game on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.