Northwestern College continues to receive votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ poll released Tuesday by the national office.
This is the third consecutive week the Red Raiders earned national recognition, totaling three points in the April 10 ranking. Off to an 18-5 record this season, Northwestern is one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the poll; Morningside (T25th).
Georgia Gwinnett was a unanimous choice for the top spot in the April 10 poll, earning all 19 first place votes with a 35-2 record. Marian (Ind.) is second with a 23-1 record, followed by Science & Arts (Okla.), Campbellsville (Ky.) and Oklahoma City.
2018 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll No. 3 (April 10, 2018)
| RANK | LAST WEEK^ | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2018 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Georgia Gwinnett (19) | 35-2 | 529 |
| 2 | 3 | Marian (Ind.) | 23-1 | 503 |
| 3 | 2 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 36-3 | 497 |
| 4 | 4 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 29-4 | 482 |
| 5 | 6 | Oklahoma City | 32-5 | 463 |
| 6 | 15 | Hope International (Calif.) | 34-4 | 429 |
| 7 | 13 | Mobile (Ala.) | 31-8 | 388 |
| 8 | 5 | Vanguard (Calif.) | 41-6 | 384 |
| T9 | 14 | Southern Oregon | 29-9 | 380 |
| T9 | 11 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 29-6 | 380 |
| 11 | 12 | Indiana Wesleyan | 30-5 | 375 |
| 12 | 9 | William Carey (Miss.) | 26-8 | 332 |
| 13 | 7 | Corban (Ore.) | 23-8 | 318 |
| 14 | 10 | Thomas (Ga.) | 25-9 | 315 |
| 15 | 8 | Columbia (Mo.) | 16-9 | 285 |
| 16 | 16 | Jamestown (N.D.) | 29-6 | 281 |
| 17 | 18 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 23-4 | 276 |
| 18 | 21 | Faulkner (Ala.) | 31-7 | 228 |
| 19 | 17 | St. Francis (Ill.) | 16-6 | 220 |
| 20 | 22 | Warner (Fla.) | 26-9 | 217 |
| 21 | 19 | Brenau (Ga.) | 20-11 | 177 |
| T22 | NR | Grand View (Iowa) | 20-4 | 141 |
| T22 | 24 | Oregon Tech | 24-9 | 141 |
| 24 | 20 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 24-10 | 122 |
| T25 | 25 | Morningside (Iowa) | 15-8 | 86 |
| T25 | 23 | Baker (Kan.) | 25-6 | 86 |
Others Receiving Votes: Rio Grande (Ohio) 61; Valley City State (N.D.) 58; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 53; Southeastern (Fla.) 43; Georgetown (Ky.) 31; Texas Wesleyan 28; Aquinas (Mich.) 19; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 16; LSU Alexandria (La.) 12; St. Ambrose (Iowa) 9; Cumberland (Tenn.) 6; Northwestern (Iowa) 3.
