Kentucky softball rises to No. 15 in week eight of USA Softball Top 25

Olivia Hall

Kentucky Wildcats infielder Meeko Harrison (77) swings the bat during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Louisville softball game on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 7-4. Photo by Olivia Hall | Staff

Colton Johnson, Reporter
April 12, 2023

Kentucky softball (22-9-1) rose to No. 15 in week eight of the USA Softball Top 25 after being tied at No. 16 in week seven.

The Wildcats saw a rise in ranking despite losing two of their last four games, including a 2-1 series loss to then No. 10 Georgia (29-6), which rose to No. 8 in week eight.

Oklahoma (33-1) remained atop the rankings, a spot it has held since week three as it looks to defend its 2022 Women’s College World Series title.

Nine SEC teams earned a top 25 ranking in week eight, with Tennessee (29-3) remaining the highest ranked team from the conference despite dropping two spots to No. 5.

Arkansas (27-9) rose two spots to No. 9 after it swept Mississippi State (37-27) in a weekend series, with LSU dropping one spot to No. 12 after being tied at No. 11 in week seven.

Despite winning its weekend series 2-1 against Missouri (22-16), Alabama (26-11) dropped one spot to No. 14 after being tied at No. 13 with Florida (26-9) in week seven.

The Gators would suffer major setbacks as they dropped five spots to No. 18 after losing their series against South Carolina (26-9) 2-1.

With Auburn (28-10) staying put at No. 23, Texas A&M (22-13) rose two spots to No. 19 despite losing 2-1 in a weekend series against Tennessee.

The Wildcats will look to climb the rankings further when they take on Ole Miss (21-16) in a weekend series in Oxford, Mississippi, starting Friday, April 7, at 6 p.m. EST.

A full list of rankings can be found below: 

  1. Oklahoma Sooners (33-1)
  2. Oklahoma State Cowboys (32-2)
  3. UCLA Bruins (32-4)
  4. Clemson Tigers (36-1)
  5. Tennessee Volunteers (29-3)
  6. Florida State Seminoles (29-7)
  7. Stanford Cardinal (28-6)
  8. Georgia Bulldogs (29-6)
  9. Arkansas Razorbacks (27-9)
  10. Texas Longhorns (30-8-1) 

T11. Washington Huskies (26-8)

T11. LSU Tigers (31-6)

  1. Duke Blue Devils (28-8)
  2. Alabama Crimson Tide (26-11)
  3. Kentucky Wildcats (21-9-1)
  4. Oregon Ducks (22-11)
  5. Virginia Tech Hokies (27-8)
  6. Florida Gators (26-9) 
  7. Texas A&M Aggies (22-13)
  8. Northwestern Wildcats (20-9)
  9. Arizona Wildcats (24-12)
  10. Baylor Bears (27-9)
  11. Auburn Tigers (28-10)
  12. Utah Utes (22-7)
  13. Wichita State Shockers (30-7)

Others receiving votes: Louisiana (51), California (35), Indiana (35), DePaul (15), Arizona State (12), Missouri (11), UCF (1).