Willamette Jumps Into NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll at #5

Willamette's success at the Leadoff Classic included three wins over teams in this week's poll.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - The Willamette University softball team, which took second place at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic this past weekend, has moved into the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll as the #5 team in the nation.

Willamette, 7-4 on the season, has losses only to teams even higher in this week's poll.

Top-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) defeated the Bearcats, 4-0, in the Leadoff Classic championship game and Linfield College, which moved up a spot this week to #3, took three of four games from Willamette -- two by one run each -- in Northwest Conference action March 3-4.

Willamette's success at the Leadoff Classic included three wins over teams in this week's poll.

The Bearcats defeated 6th-ranked Chapman University (Calif.), 8-1, downed 8th-ranked Central College (Iowa), 12-4 (6 inn., run rule) and outscored 13th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (ranked 7th last week), 8-4.

The Bearcats to not play this weekend, but return to action on Saturday, March 24th at George Fox University with an NWC doubleheader, starting at noon.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports