Wednesday, April 10, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Saint Martin's is ranked 23rd in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 softball poll.

The ranking is the first in program history for the Saints, who finished second last week in the Mizuno Tournament of Champions at Turlock, Calif.

The Saints (26-11) won six of seven games at Turlock, including a 5-4 win over Humboldt State, which is ranked seventh in this week's poll.  That win snapped Humboldt's 18-game win streak.

Two years ago, SMU won just nine games before having the biggest turnaround in Division II last season posting a 33-18-1 record, an 18-game improvement.  That was the sixth-best turnaround in NCAA Division II history.

The Saints return to action Thursday hosting Western Oregon in a 2 p.m. doubleheader before traveling to Billings Saturday for a twinbill with Montana State Billings.

Central Washington plays at Northwest Nazarene Saturday in the only other conference contests this week.

AROUND THE GNAC: Saint Martin's first baseman Joslyn Eugenio has tied the GNAC career record for doubles with 59.  That equals the record set by Tyler Sutherland of Western Oregon between 2007 and 2010.  Eugenio also ranks fourth in GNAC history in hits (229), seventh in official at bats (607) and total bases (327) and eighth in RBI (127).  Her career batting average of .377 ranks 14th all-time ... Joining Humboldt State and Saint Martin's in this week's national poll from the West Region is Sonoma State (17th).  The first official NCAA West Regional ranking will be released next Wednesday (Apr. 17).  The regional poll will eventually determine the five teams that will join the GNAC, CCAA and PacWest champions in next month's regional playoffs.