Drovers Claim Top Spot in Final NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll

Drovers Claim Top Spot in Final NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Wednesday morning, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the final Coaches' Top 25 Rating of the regular season, and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma claimed the No. 1 spot for the first time this season. 

The Drovers edged three other teams by the slimmest of margins to claim the top spot heading into the postseason. Four different teams received a first-place vote in the poll, with USAO, Oregon Tech, and Cumberlands (Ky.) each getting five votes, while Southern Oregon got three. The tiebreaker came down to the leagues point system, in which the Drovers received 458 points, Oregon Tech with 455, Cumberlands with 454, and Southern Oregon with 451.

Rating Methodology:

  • The rating is rated by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
  • The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each rater rates the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place, 28 for third-place and so on through the list.
  • The highest and lowest ratings for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) are removed. The team's rating will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the team appears on.
  • Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes".

 

The Drovers currently own a 43-7 overall win-loss record and concluded the regular season with a 33-3 record against opponents in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Additionally, USAO earned their third SAC regular season championship, and have their eyes on a three-peat at the SAC Tournament this upcoming weekend. 

 

USAO's success has not come easy this season, as they have faced one of the most difficult schedules in the country. The Drovers have played 13 games against opponents that are ranked in the top 25 poll and has put together a 7-6 record in those high-quality matchups. USAO has gone head-to-head with all four of the other teams in the top five, with wins against No. 3 Cumberlands and No. 5 OLLU, and loses against No. 2 Oregon tech and No. 4 Southern Oregon. The Drovers also split a four-game series on the road at No. 7 Oklahoma City and split a double-header against No. 10 Northwestern (Iowa). USAO also owns wins against No. 16 Missouri Baptist and No. 20 Hope International (Calif.).

During USAO's current 12-game win streak, they have outscored opponents 105-19. Through 50 games this season, USAO has tallied 10 or more hits on 25 different occasions, and they have earned 18 wins via the run-rule. The pitching staff has also been terrific, producing a 1.93 earned run average with 265 strikeouts in 312.0 innings. Furthermore, USAO has held opponents to a .214 batting average, while the Drovers offense owns a .361 average at the dish. 

 

The Drovers have used a well-balanced attack to overwhelm opponents this season, with four different players earning SAC Player of the Week Honors (Sierra Selfridge x2, Leighanne Eaton, Shaylann Grace, Jadyn Goucher). Furthermore, Sophie Williams has been tabbed as the SAC Pitcher of the Week five times this season, along with one NAIA Pitcher of the Week award. 

 

Sierra Selfridge currently ranks second in the NAIA in RBIs (75) and 8th in HRs (14). In total, she has produced a .438 batting average with 71 hits, 18 doubles, 14 home runs, 33 runs scored, and 75 runs batted in. She is a virtual lock to claim her fourth consecutive selection to the First Team All-SAC next week.

Selfridge has ascended to the top of multiple categories in the program's record book. She now the all-time leader in runs batted in (216) and doubles (63), while ranking second in hits (266) and games played (223), third in home runs (32), fourth in runs scored (145) and at bats (674). 

 

Leighanne Eaton has been a reliable piece of the team all season, producing a .341 batting average with 46 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, 28 runs scored, and 39 runs batted in. The Chickasha native earned the SAC Player of the Week of the award after a stellar opening weekend in Texas. 

 

Shaylann Grace has provided constant production in the middle of the lineup, producing a .415 batting average, .748 slugging percentage, and a .519 on base percentage. This season, Grace has tallied 54 hits, 15 doubles, eight homers, 22 runs scored, and 39 runs batted in. She has reached the bases on 11 walks and 15 hit by pitches, while only striking out 20 times.  

 

Jadyn Goucher has overcome a slow start to the season and has turned it around to be one of the best hitters in the country over the last month and a half. Goucher owns a .347 batting average with 42 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 35 runs scored, and 34 runs batted in. She has been walked ten times and hit by eight pitched while only striking out 18 times. Goucher has also stolen 19 bases. 

 

Kinzie Williams is without question one of the best top of the order hitters in the country, producing an astounding .471 batting average with 80 hits, seven doubles, three triples, a homer, 48 runs scored, and 37 runs batted in. She has also been a menace on the base paths, swiping 31 bases. Williams has been held hitless in only five of her 49 games played this season.

 

Malea McMurtrey has continued to prove that she is one of the best all-around players in the country. She owns a .452 batting average with 66 hits, five triples, a homer, 57 runs scored, and 27 runs batted in. McMurtrey has a .512 on base percentage and has stolen 27 bases. 

Next week she will likely receive her third consecutive SAC Gold Glove award after recording a .980 fielding percentage on 149 total chances.

She has also climbed the Drover record book this season, ranking third all-time in batting average (.404), stolen bases (90), runs scored (169), and triples (11). 

 

It also helps that the Drovers have the best pitcher in the conference, and Sophie Williams will likely receive her third consecutive SAC Pitcher of the Year award next week. This season, she owns a 22-4 record with a 1.29 earned run average and 167 strikeouts in 157.2 innings pitched. Williams has gone the distance 21 times and has held opponents scoreless 10 times. 

In her stellar career, Williams owns a 93-23 record, along with a 1.32 earned run average and 896 strikeouts in 728.2 innings of work. She owns 38 shutouts, five no-hitters, and seven perfect games since the start of 2022. 

 

 

WHAT'S NEXT?

On Friday, May 2, the Drovers will begin their run at a three-peat in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament as they face No. 8 seeded Wayland Baptist University at 11:00 AM CT at Bill Smith Ballpark.

USAO and OCU will once again host the top eight teams from the SAC regular season, with the winner of each bracket meeting in Chickasha for the championship game on Sunday, May 4. For more information about the SAC Tournament CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

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