Kentucky softball falls to No. 16 in week nine of USA Softball Top 25

Samuel Colmar

Kentucky Wildcats pitcher Stephanie Schoonover (23) walks towards the dugout after retiring the inning during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Dayton softball home opener game on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 5-4. Photo by Samuel Colmar | Staff

Colton Johnson, Reporter
April 12, 2023

Kentucky softball (24-10-1) fell out of the top 15, dropping one spot to No. 16 in week nine of the USA Softball Top 25.

The drop in ranking comes despite the Wildcats defeating Ole Miss (23-18) 2-1 in a weekend series to bring their conference record to 7-5.

Oklahoma (36-1) remained atop the standings for the seventh week in a row, with UCLA (36-4) reclaiming the No. 2 spot for the first time since week four.

Nine SEC teams earned top 25 rankings, with Tennessee (29-7) earning the highest ranking of any conference team as it stayed put at No. 6.

Georgia (31-8) fell one spot to No. 9 despite a 2-1 series victory against Arkansas (28-11), which saw its ranking drop two spots to No. 11 after the loss.

After being tied at No. 11 in week eight, LSU (33-7) dropped to No. 12 despite a 2-1 series victory over Missouri (23-18).

Florida (28-10) got back on track as it earned a No. 15 ranking after dropping to No. 18 in week eight, taking a 2-1 series victory over Auburn (29-12), which fell one spot to No. 24.

Texas A&M fell out of the top 20 after dropping two spots to No. 21 despite sweeping Mississippi State (37-27).

Kentucky will look to reclimb the rankings as it takes on Bellarmine in a midweek matchup on Wednesday with that game set to be followed by a weekend series against Tennessee.

The first pitch of game one is set for Friday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. EST at John Cropp Stadium.

A full list of rankings can be found below: