University of Minnesota Athletics

GOPHER SOFTBALL RANKED 22ND IN PRE-SEASON POLL

1/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball

recoThe Minnesota softball team is ranked 22nd in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll. The Gophers, who advanced to the 1998 NCAA Softball Tournament and tied a school record with 48 wins in 1998, finished 16th in the final poll of last season. Minnesota returns eight starters and 12 letterwinners to the 1999 squad.

Minnesota will open its 1999 season by hosting the Metrodome Softball Tournament from Feb. 12-14. The Gophers will play Kansas, Missouri, Northern Illinois and Western Illinois in the three-day event.

USA TODAY/NFCA TOP 25 POLL

Preseason -- January 27, 1999

1998 Record Poll Points 1. Fresno State (20) 52-11 617 2. Arizona (1) 67-4 588 3. UCLA (4) 18-27 546 4. Washington 52-15 529 5. Michigan 56-7 498 6. South Florida 57-14 464 7. Texas 49-16 440 8. Nebraska 48-12 428 9. Louisiana State 58-14 370 10. Massachusetts 45-14 362 11. Oklahoma 49-15 332 (tie)DePaul 47-8 332 13. Long Beach State 39-20 318 14. Stanford 41-18 305 15. Oklahoma State 42-19 265 16. Iowa 38-19 236 17. Hawaii 46-15 200 18. Arizona State 38-27 180 19. Alabama 49-18 163 20. Florida 47-22 143 21. Florida State 50-20 137 22. MINNESOTA 48-21 107 23. Hofstra 39-17 78 24. Illinois-Chicago 56-21 67 25. Oregon 40-31 60

Others Receiving Votes: California 43, South Carolina 38, Pacific 32, Missouri 31, Utah 29, Boston College 27, Southwest Missouri State 21, CS-Northridge 20, Central Michigan 19, Southern Illinois 18, Northwestern 16, USL 14, Texas Tech 12, Colorado State 9, Michigan State 8, Northern Illinois 8, Oregon State 7, Kansas 4, NE Louisiana 2, Mississippi State 1, Harvard 1.

Highlights: Gophers 5, SIUE 0
Tuesday, March 10
Highlights: Gophers 4, Indiana 6
Sunday, March 08
Highlights: Gophers 2, Indiana 0
Friday, March 06
Highlights: Gophers 6, Central Michigan 1
Saturday, February 21