Week 2 of the softball season is in the books. And while the action in Clearwater, Florida, getting halted due to weather left much to be desired, it was another fantastic week on the diamond.
There were a number of impressive performances across the country and we’re beginning to see the top teams separate themselves.
Oklahoma may be in a tier of its own because of what it has done over the last three-plus years, but teams such as Texas and Georgia have been impressive as well.
On the flip side, powerhouse programs UCLA and Florida State have had slow starts.
The SEC is beginning to establish itself as the premiere softball conference. Mississippi State and Kentucky have picked up big nonconference wins this season. In D1Softball’s latest top 25, 11 SEC programs are represented. That’s not even including Oklahoma and Texas who will officially be joining the SEC in July.
The Red River Rivals have been on a tear to start the season and look to be on a collision course for the Big 12 title in their final years.
25
Boston Terriers (10-0)Happy Birthday Coach‼️ BU Softball could not be what it is without you leading the way. You have a love for this game that is unmatched. The BU softball family loves you! @ashley3waters pic.twitter.com/Oq3nur3Q8i
— BU Softball (@TerrierSoftball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: Unranked
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Receiving Votes
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: Receiving Votes
Notable Wins Last Week: Beat Charlotte twice by a combined score of 7-1.
Notable Games This Week: Michigan State, Duke
24
UCLA Bruins (3-4)The Bruins (3-4) bounced back in a big way with a 14-10 victory over No. 7 Florida State to begin the Clearwater Invitational on Friday.
UCLA mashed three home runs and three doubles in the win.
Recap: https://t.co/Mtpoz17StJ pic.twitter.com/QvsjXqcvRg
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) February 17, 2024
Softball America Rank: Unranked
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 19
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 19
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Florida State 14-10, lost to Georgia 7-1
Notable Games This Week: Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois, Baylor, Tennessee
23
Northwestern Wildcats (5-2)Past and Present Wildcats 💜
Thankful for the amazing support from our alums in Clearwater! pic.twitter.com/M2qSgNC74X
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: Unranked
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 24
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: Receiving Votes
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Georgia Tech, lost to LSU
Notable Games This Week: UCLA, Oregon State, Auburn
22
California Golden Bears (10-1)SWEPT THE WEEKEND. 🧹
Cal moves to 10-1 with a Sunday win over Memphis!#GoBears pic.twitter.com/VGIBb9T50X
— Cal Softball (@CalSB) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 21
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 21
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: Receiving Votes
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Cal State Fullerton, Virginia Tech
Notable Games This Week: Illinois, Hawaii
21
Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-1)Looking up 📈#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/szwWX7iDBB
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 18
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 25
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 20
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Clemson and Utah, Lost to UC Davis
Notable Games This Week: UCF, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Cal State Fullerton
20
Florida Gators (8-2)Schedule Update 🚨
Florida will now take on Oklahoma State tomorrow at 6pm at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for a Top 25 Showdown!
🎟️ https://t.co/lxBOAAkJyf
📰 https://t.co/95iRQYRQUE#GoGators | See you there! pic.twitter.com/cOOBSQmLKJSee AlsoLSU Baseball Opening Day on Friday as the Tigers Face VMINoles News: Baseball gets a sweep to start seasonA Look at Updated Rankings After Successful Weekends for Mizzou Softball, GymnasticsLongest winning streaks in NCAA DI softball history— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 15
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 14
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 16
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Loyola and Georgia Southern (Lost to Oklahoma State on Monday
Notable Games This Week: T-Mobile Tournament (Gainesville)
19
Baylor Bears (3-3)TOP 25 SERIES ✅#SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/YCpJ8rro6p
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 22
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Receiving Votes
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 22
Notable Games Last Week: Went 2-1 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, beat McNeese State
Notable Games This Week: Oregon, Notre Dame, UCLA, Missouri
18
South Carolina Gameco*cks (8-1)Congrats to @MardjetkoSage and @black_aniyah on being named to the @PVCollegeSB All-Tournament Team!!#Gameco*cks🤙 pic.twitter.com/oLdDqpuC7k
— Gameco*ck Softball (@Gameco*ckSoftbll) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 20
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 17
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 18
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Utah, lost to Wichita State
Notable Games This Week: UMass, James Madison, Charlotte
17
Arizona Wildcats (10-1)Ended the Bear Down Fiesta with a bang 💥#BearDown
— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 17
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 22
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 23
Notable Games Last Week: Split pair of games with Arkansas.
Notable Games This Week: Indiana (2)
16
Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)Made them waddle back to the dugout. pic.twitter.com/ArADfK7rbI
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 13
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 18
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 17
Notable Games Last Week: Swept Oregon and San Diego State
Notable Games This Week: Kansas, UTSA
15
Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2)SHE GONE pic.twitter.com/Iv80BDjQE5
— Arkansas Softball (@RazorbackSB) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 14
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 15
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 14
Notable Games Last Week: Split two games with Arizona, beat Long Beach State
Notable Games This Week: UT-Arlington (2), Wichita State (2)
14
Florida State Seminoles (5-3)ISAAAA
She gets her first career home run in the bottom of the fourth🍢
📺ESPN2#ALL4ONE pic.twitter.com/Y7kfVbZfy7
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) February 17, 2024
Softball America Rank: 16
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 12
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 11
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Stanford, lost to UCLA and Georgia
Notable Games This Week: Dugout Club Classic in Tallahassee
13
Kentucky Wildcats (6-2)#MondayMood with @lo_borzilleri pic.twitter.com/RK0F4zujGR
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 19
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 16
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 15
Notable Games Last Week: Beat North Carolina and Wisconsin, lost to Washington
Notable Games This Week: at USC Upstate Tournament (South Carolina)
12
Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0)Nicole DeBoer will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday at Rhoads Stadium!🥎#Team28 #RollTide https://t.co/frS2cFhuXe pic.twitter.com/E3e5oJgQQc
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 12
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 10
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 10
Notable Games Last Week: Swept Virginia by a combined score of 6-3
Notable Games This Week: Green and Gold Classic at UAB
11
Missouri Tigers (10-0)Yeehaw!! Wrapping our Lone Star State trip with a visit to the Stockyards. 🤠⭐️#OwnIt #MIZ 🐯🥎 pic.twitter.com/hQW6cnBPmj
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 8
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 11
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 13
Notable Games Last Week: Swept Tracy Beard College Classic by a combine score of 33-6
Notable Games This Week: San Diego State, Wisconsin, Cal State Fullerton, Baylor
10
Clemson Tigers (6-2)Clemson is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. at Charlotte pic.twitter.com/WWNLLybZUj
— Clemson Softball 🥎 (@clemsonsoftball) February 17, 2024
Softball America Rank: 9
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 9
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 9
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Wichita State, lost to Mississippi State
Notable Games This Week: Charlotte, Ole Miss
9
Stanford Cardinal (5-4)📸 from a weekend in Florida!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/lmiYCY120t
— Stanford Softball (@StanfordSball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 10
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 13
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 12
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Georgia Tech and Tennessee, lost to Texas and Florida State
Notable Games This Week: Colorado State (2), Texas, Louisiana (2)
8
Oklahoma State Cowgirls (7-2)See ya later, alligator. #GoPokes | @MidFirst pic.twitter.com/BaBnJEfa49
— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) February 20, 2024
Softball America Rank: 11
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 7
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 8
Notable Games Last Week: Lost to Georgia and LSU, beat Wisconsin (Beat Florida Monday).
Notable Games This Week: Washington, South Florida, Pitt
7
Duke Blue Devils (8-1)📸 from Miami 🌴#Team7 | #GoDuke pic.twitter.com/kpa0EteXU5
— Duke Softball (@DukeSOFTBALL) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 5
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 8
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 6
Notable Games Last Week: 4-0 in FIU invitational by combined score of 26-1.
Notable Games This Week: Villanova (2), Boston, Michigan State
6
LSU Tigers (8-0)Grateful to spend time with @shrinershosp patient ambassador Zavi and other Tiger fans in Clearwater this weekend! #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/2srDZ6CmeK
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) February 18, 2024
Softball America Rank: 6
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 6
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 7
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Oklahoma State
Notable Games This Week: Boise State (2), Houston (2)
5
Tennessee Volunteers (4-2)Put in the work today.#LadyVols | @ClearwaterInv pic.twitter.com/fN4rvw8yhs
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) February 17, 2024
Softball America Rank: 7
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 5
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 5
Notable Games Last Week: Lost to Stanford and Texas
Notable Games This Week: Cal State Fullerton, Oregon State, UCF, UCLA, Hawaii
4
Washington Huskies (6-1)PAC-12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK 🏅
>> https://t.co/Qxce1WAPGv#MightyAreTheWomen x @rubymeylan pic.twitter.com/WnHMYkXHaX
— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 4
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 4
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 4
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Kentucky, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Notable Games This Week: Oklahoma State, Pitt, South Florida
3
Georgia Bulldogs (9-0)don’t take your eyes off the Dawgs #Team28 | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/JFxztYAlNR
— Georgia Softball (@UGASoftball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 3
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 3
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 3
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Florida State
Notable Games This Week: Virginia Tech (2)
2
Texas Longhorns (7-0)BREAKING: We have received an update on Stewie's home run 🥎 #HookEm | @KatieStew2242 pic.twitter.com/h75SOLid7h
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 2
NFCA/USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 2
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 2
Notable Games Last Week: Beat Tennessee and Stanford
Notable Games This Week: Louisiana (2), Colorado State (2), Stanford
1
Oklahoma Sooners (9-0)🗓️ We’ve got a full slate at the 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 this weekend!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/E6eLvlNsHw
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) February 19, 2024
Softball America Rank: 1
USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: 1
USA Softball/ESPN Poll: 1
Notable Games Last Week: 5-0 in Cowgirl Challenge with a combined score of 36-1.
Notable Games This Week: Mississippi State, Wisconsin, San Diego State in Mary Nutter Classic
