-Bryce Hayes, TLU Sports Information
(Seguin) – Following a 5-1 weekend at the Division-III National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, Texas Lutheran softball has been unanimously named the new No. 1 team in the country, the NFCA announced in their poll Tuesday.
The (9-3) Bulldogs, beat two ranked teams and two squads receiving votes at the power-packed Leadoff at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia. Texas Lutheran’s lone loss was a 13-9 slugfest against then-No. 1 DePauw.
Texas Lutheran’s No. 1 spot in the NFCA poll marks the eighth time TLU has been the unanimous choice in the coaches poll, joining the 2019 National Championship team along with the 2020 and 2021 squads.
TLU received all 10 first-place votes and is joined in the top five by No. 2 Salisbury, No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan, No. 4 East Texas Baptist, and No. 5 Birmingham-Southern.
As a team, Texas Lutheran currently ranks in the top 20 nationally in hits (19th, 105), home runs (6th, 12), home runs per game (8th, 1.0 home run/game), and runs scored (15th, 79).
The full NFCA poll can be viewed here.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll is selected by 10 NCAA Division III head coaches representing the 10 NCAA regions.
Texas Lutheran hosts Case Western Reserve University, who is receiving votes in the NFCA poll, Thursday, March 10, at Ed Kruse Stadium in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 and 5 PM. Texas Lutheran opens SCAC play this weekend at Schreiner. The series begins Friday in Kerrville.
For more information on Texas Lutheran softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter and Instagram (@TLUsoftball) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlubulldogs on Instagram and Facebook, and @tlu_athletics on TikTok).