In the first NJCAA Division I softball regular season poll of the 2014 season, Butler softball is ranked third in the nation, as released Wednesday.
Ranked sixth in preseason, Butler (11-3) has won seven straight contests - including a pair of road conference wins over No. 11 Seward County back on March 6.
There were plenty of changes from the preseason poll to the first regular season poll, as only seven preseason teams remained ranked in the top 20. The Grizzlies remain the highest ranked preseason team to stay in the polls.
Butler will travel to Joplin, Mo., this weekend for the Carthage Bash. The Grizzlies play three games on Saturday - Iowa Western, Jefferson (Mo.), and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. On Sunday, Butler will take on Seminole State (Okla.) and Connors State (Okla.).
Butler returns home on Wednesday, March 26 for a conference doubleheader against Barton, beginning at 3 p.m.
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NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TOP 20 NATIONAL POLL |
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| March 12, 2014 | ||||
| Rank | College | Record | Points | Prev. |
| 1 | McLennan, Texas |
24-5 | 80 | 15 |
| 2 | Chattanooga State, Tenn. | 25-3 | 76 | NR |
| 3 | Butler | 11-3 | 72 | 6 |
| 4 | San Jacinto-South, Texas | 22-8 | 68 | NR |
| 5 | Eastern Arizona | 20-3 | 64 | 18 |
| 6 | Chipola, Fla. | 18-8 | 60 | 8 |
| 7 | Southern Nevada | 19-7 | 56 | NR |
| 8 | Northwest Florida State | 23-7 | 52 | NR |
| 9 | Blinn, Texas | 18-6 | 48 | NR |
| 10 | Walters State, Tenn. | 15-3 | 44 | NR |
| 11 | Seward County | 15-4 | 40 | NR |
| 12 | Southern Idaho | 22-10 | 36 | 9 |
| 13 | Odessa, Texas | 18-5 | 32 | 10 |
| 14 | Trinity Valley, Texas | 18-6 | 28 | NR |
| 15 | Darton State, Ga. | 19-7 | 24 | NR |
| 16 | Polk State, Fla. | 23-8 | 20 | NR |
| 17 | Southern Union State, Ala. | 19-6 | 16 | NR |
| 18 | Lake Land, Ill. | 14-6 | 12 | 11 |
| 19 | Daytona State, Fla. | 17-4 | 8 | NR |
| 20 | Arizona Western | 17-3 | 4 | NR |
Other schools receiving votes: Jefferson, Mo. (8-1); Central Arizona (18-3); Howard, Texas (17-6); Salt Lake, Utah (14-10); Olney Central, Ill. (9-1)