Northwestern College received votes in the first edition of the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 poll released Wednesday by the national office. This marks the first time the Red Raiders have been recognized in the national poll since the 2012 season.
The Red Raiders are off to an 11-4 start to the 2018 season, finishing their Spring Break trip in Tucson, Ariz. with an 8-2 record. They defeated four teams that were ranked or received votes in the preseason poll (Olivet Nazarene, Madonna, St. Francis and Jamestown). Northwestern is one of two teams from the GPAC in the March 13 coaches’ poll, joining Morningside (22).
Georgia Gwinnett moved up six spots and took over the No.1 ranking in this week’s rating. The Grizzlies are 18-1 on the year and earned 16 of the 19 possible first place votes. Marian (Ind.) is second, totaling one first place vote, followed by Science & Arts (Okla.), Campbellsville (Ky.) and Vanguard (Calif.).
Northwestern is scheduled to open conference play this weekend at home against Concordia on Saturday, March 17.
2018 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll No. 1
| RANK | PRVS. | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2018 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 7 | Georgia Gwinnett (16) | 18-1 | 526 |
| 2 | 4 | Marian (Ind.) (1) | 9-1 | 480 |
| 3 | 25 | Science & Arts (Okla.) (1) | 14-1 | 455 |
| 4 | 12 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 14-3 | 453 |
| 5 | 17 | Vanguard (Calif.) (1) | 24-2 | 443 |
| 6 | 2 | Columbia (Mo.) | 7-4 | 439 |
| 7 | 1 | Oklahoma City | 10-4 | 413 |
| 8 | 5 | Corban (Ore.) | 12-4 | 402 |
| 9 | 8 | William Carey (Miss.) | 12-4 | 389 |
| 10 | 10 | Indiana Wesleyan | 19-2 | 369 |
| 11 | 8 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 10-3 | 355 |
| 12 | RV | Thomas (Ga.) | 16-6 | 354 |
| 13 | 5 | Brenau (Ga.) | 11-6 | 308 |
| 14 | 3 | Southern Oregon | 19-7 | 290 |
| 15 | 19 | Mobile (Ala.) | 14-5 | 257 |
| 16 | 21 | Grand View (Iowa) | 5-2 | 242 |
| 17 | NR | USC Beaufort (S.C.) | 20-5 | 238 |
| 18 | 11 | St. Francis (Ill.) | 8-4 | 222 |
| 19 | 13 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 14-6 | 213 |
| 20 | NR | Hope International (Calif.) | 18-2 | 196 |
| 21 | RV | Jamestown (N.D.) | 14-3 | 192 |
| 22 | 15 | Morningside (Iowa) | 10-5 | 176 |
| 23 | NR | Faulkner (Ala.) | 18-2 | 174 |
| 24 | 22 | Warner (Fla.) | 15-6 | 110 |
| 25 | NR | Lyon (Ark.) | 18-4 | 106 |
Others Receiving Votes: Baker (Kan.) 105; Oregon Tech 94; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 80; Central Methodist (Mo.) 64; Rio Grande (Ohio) 52; Reinhardt (Ga.) 50; Georgetown (Ky.) 38; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 22; Aquinas (Mich.) 20; William Jessup (Calif.) 18; Northwestern (Iowa) 11; Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 8; Simpson (Calif.) 6; Taylor (Ind.) 5; Bellevue (Neb.) 3.
