Softball Re-Enters NFCA Top-25 Poll at No. 24

NFCA TOP-25 POLL

St. Louis, Mo., March 30, 2011 – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team has re-entered the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 Poll at No. 24, as announced by the Association on Wednesday.

Washington University, who has won 10 of its last 11 games, travels to Grinnell, Iowa, this weekend to compete in the Hy-Vee Classic. The Bears take on Simpson College at 11 a.m. and No. 9 ranked Central College at 1 p.m. on Friday, followed by a doubleheader against host Grinnell on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Bears have hit .369 at the plate in the last 11 games, averaging 8.0 runs and 9.6 hits per game. Junior Alyssa Abramoski has the led the offensive charge at the plate for Washington U., batting .600 (18-30) with six doubles and 16 RBIs. On the mound, senior Claire Voris (4-0, 1.36 ERA, 47 K’s) and junior Olivia Cook (5-1, 1.62 ERA) have anchored a Bears’ pitching staff that has allowed just 16 earned runs in the last 11 games (1.60 ERA).

Head coach Leticia Pineda-Boutté, who celebrated a birthday on Wednesday, is two wins shy of becoming Washington University’s all-time wins leader. Pineda-Boutté is 177-58-1 (.752) in six seasons at Washington U., and 198-84-1 (.701) in seven years as a collegeiate head coach.

Washington University (16-5-1) was ranked No. 14 in the NFCA Preseason Poll, and jumped to a season-high No. 7 in the Feb. 23 poll. After a 3-2-1 start to the season the Bears dropped out of the polls until Wednesday.