Feb. 15, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY – Following an impressive opening weekend of play the University of Kentucky softball team has entered the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll it was announced Tuesday.
Kentucky comes in with a No. 24 overall national ranking in the poll following a 4-1 week at the FIU Combat Classic. This marks the second national rating in school history as UK was previously ranked No. 23 overall in early March of the 2010 season in the same poll.
UK opened the season receiving votes in the USA Softball poll and quickly rose into the top 25 thanks in large part to quality wins over then ranked No. 22/24 Ohio State, DePaul and FIU.
Kentucky knocked off Ohio State by a 9-0 score in a five inning affair. UK blasted a program-record three home runs in the contest en route to the dominating victory. It marked the second consecutive season the Wildcats earned a win over a ranked opponent in the team’s lid lifter.
The Blue and White continued its hot start with a shutout victory over the host FIU Golden Panthers by a 5-0 score.
UK captured its most dramatic victory of the early season with a 6-3 late-inning comeback effort against now ranked No. 25 DePaul. UK trailed 3-1 going into the top of the seventh inning and rallied for a pair of scores to knot the score at three apiece and force extra frames. Kentucky used the momentum to its advantage with a three-run eighth inning to claim the win.
Kentucky is one of six Southeastern Conference schools ranked in this week’s top 25. Alabama is ranked No. 3 and received one vote for No. 1. Georgia and Florida are next in the No. 4 and No. 5 slots. Tennessee ranks No. 7 in the country and LSU is coming in at the No. 16 spot.
The Blue and White returns to action beginning Friday, Feb. 18 with matchups against Georgia Southern and Middle Tennessee State on the campus of Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. Kentucky will also meet Florida State on Saturday, Feb. 19 before the teams will square off in a double elimination tournament for the remainder of the weekend.
Complete coverage of the Wildcat softball team all season long can be found at UKathletics.com.
