Softball Ranked #17 In Preseason Poll

January 23, 2014

The Brenau Golden Tigers softball team opens the 2014 season in a familiar position garnering a #17 national ranking in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Led by head coach Devon Thomas, the Golden Tigers have become a perennial top 25 ranked program, finishing last season ranked #20 and with a 34-16 record.

The Golden Tigers return ten players from last year's squad, including NAIA All-American selection and SSAC Freshman of the Year Liz Schneider (Smyrna, Ga.) and All-Conference standout Jenny Shepherd (Martinez, Ga.).

2014 NAIA Softball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll (Jan. 21)

RANK	LAST WEEK^	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	2013 RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	1	Concordia (Calif.) (20)	52-3	591
2	2	Spring Hill (Ala.) (1)	49-17	572
3	5	Oklahoma City	51-14	543
4	4	Williams Baptist (Ark.)	46-9	535
T5	6	Reinhardt (Ga.)	45-9	499
T5	7	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	50-9	499
7	8	Auburn Montgomery (Ala.)	45-12	480
8	9	Cal State San Marcos	43-12	468
9	13	Belhaven (Miss.)	38-14	423
10	15	Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)	48-9	390
11	14	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	50-10	384
12	11	USC Beaufort (S.C.)	43-6	369
13	19	College of Idaho	36-23	354
14	17	Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)	32-9	306
T15	NR	Oklahoma Baptist	33-23	298
T15	18	Houston-Victoria (Texas)	32-22	298
17	20	Brenau (Ga.)	34-16	279
18	RV	Concordia (Ore.)	35-23	221
19	16	St. Gregory's (Okla.)	35-17	215
20	22	Bellevue (Neb.)	43-11	209
21	25	William Carey (Miss.)	34-18	189
22	20	Park (Mo.)	31-11	184
23	RV	Central Methodist (Mo.)	35-12	172
24	21	Friends (Kan.)	43-8	167
25	RV	Oregon Tech	37-16	131

Others receiving votes: Indiana Southeast 123; Corban (Ore.) 60; Campbellsville (Ky.) 56; Davenport (Mich.) 55; Vanguard (Calif.) 54; Marian (Ind.) 53; Mobile (Ala.) 51; Central Baptist (Ark.) 32; William Woods (Mo.) 20; Virginia Intermont 15; Simpson (Calif.) 12; Columbia (Mo.) 7; Bethel (Ind.) 7; Grand View (Iowa) 5; LSU Alexandria 3.

^ Ranking from June 5, 2013 (2013 Postseason Top 25)