By: Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), national champions for the second-straight year, holds the No. 1 ranking in the 2015 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. The Warhawks take over the top spot from Oklahoma City, a team that had held the No. 1 billing during all eight weeks of the regular season. With all 17 first-place votes, Auburn Montgomery collected 467 total points en route to its third overall No. 1 ranking in school history.

The Warhawks were the Preseason No. 1-ranked club after a 2014 national championship. This time, No. 2-seeded Auburn Montgomery defeated No. 6-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) by a 10-0 score in the 2015 NAIA Softball World Series ‘if necessary’ championship game. The Warhawks (46-8) became the third different NAIA program to win two-consecutive NAIA World Series championships and first since Oklahoma City (2000-02). Two-time World Series MVP Cassie Jones was one of the Auburn Montgomery highlights. She tossed 31.0 innings in Sioux City, Iowa, finishing with 52 strikeouts and a 0.90 ERA while allowing four earned runs.

Second-ranked Lindsey Wilson captured 452 points in the Top 25. The Blue Raiders tied their highest ranking of the year. Prior to this season, Lindsey Wilson (53-8) had never competed in the softball World Series championship game.

The World Series’ No. 1 seed LSU Alexandria (La.) finished the year with a No. 3 ranking. The Generals tallied 425 points after a 52-5 season. LSU Alexandria advanced to Tuesday World Series action, which included just the final six remaining teams.

Oregon Tech (47-16), a third-place finisher at the World Series, stands with the No. 4 ranking and 422 points.

No. 5 Central Methodist (Mo.) posted 399 points. The Eagles, who went 43-8 on the year, finished with a 1-2 World Series record.

After entering the postseason with a No. 17 ranking, Concordia (Ore.) went on a tear to move up to No. 6. That 11-spot improvement was the largest positive jump within the Top 25. Conversely, No. 11 Concordia (Calif.) tripped up in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round and fell eight positions.

No. 14 Dickinson State (N.D.) and No. 24 Bellevue (Neb.) both are nationally included for the first time in 2015. The Bluehawks, who competed in the World Series for the first time since 2010, are in the Top 25 for the first time since May 3, 2011 (No. 24). Bellevue is mentioned for the first time since the 2014 Preseason Top 25 (No. 20).

Thomas (Ga.) (No. 23) and Vanguard (Calif.) (No. 25) both dropped out of the Top 25.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences /independent /unaffiliated groupings.

For the complete calendar of 2015 Top 25 Polls, click here.

Notes: (all information dating back to 2000) No. 1 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) became the first team to be on top of the preseason charts and win the national championship in the same season since Oklahoma City did so in 2002… Through all 10 polls (including preseason), there were 40 different ranked teams this year… Fifteen programs held a Top 25 ranking in each of the polls this year… No. 3 LSU Alexandria (La.) wrapped up its second-season of being eligible for the polls and has held a top-10 ranking for 19-straight weeks… Auburn Montgomery (2 times) and Oklahoma City (8 times) were the No. 1-ranked teams this year… Oklahoma City leads all active schools with 111-straight rankings, falling no lower than 18th during that stretch, which dates back to start of 2004 season… No. 9 William Carey (Miss.) is second with 74-consecutive mentions and Concordia (Calif.) is right behind at 65-straight polls… Since 2000, 12 teams have topped the poll with former member California Baptist leading the way with 46 all-time No. 1 appearances, followed by Oklahoma City at 28, Concordia with 24, former member Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 18, Thomas (Ga.) with 13, Mobile (Ala.) with five, former member Lubbock Christian (Texas) with four and Auburn Montgomery with three.

2015 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll – June 3

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL (1ST VOTES)	2015 RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	4	Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (17)	46-8	467
2	6	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	53-8	452
3	3	LSU Alexandria	52-5	425
4	12	Oregon Tech	47-16	422
5	8	Central Methodist (Mo.)	43-8	399
6	17	Concordia (Ore.)	43-17	396
7	1	Oklahoma City	55-6	373
8	10	Mobile (Ala.)	38-14	363
9	14	William Carey (Miss.)	41-19	341
10	7	Campbellsville (Ky.)	38-11	336
11	3	Concordia (Calif.)	50-8	325
12	5	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	46-7-2	300
13	9	Science & Arts (Okla.)	43-9	281
14	RV	Dickinson State (N.D.)	44-13	274
15	11	St. Gregory's (Okla.)	36-11	249
16	16	USC Beaufort (S.C.)	42-14	229
17	13	Cal State San Marcos	34-16	218
18	20	Davenport (Mich.)	42-10	196
19	15	Southeastern (Fla.)	40-14	191
20	19	Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)	43-11	162
21	18	Biola (Calif.)	36-20	156
22	22	Corban (Ore.)	39-18	126
23	24	Marian (Ind.)	42-14	123
24	RV	Bellevue (Neb.)	41-14-1	113
25	21	Georgia Gwinnett	37-16	106

Receiving Votes: Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 56; Thomas (Ga.) 53; Madonna (Mich.) 49; Indiana Wesleyan 46; Doane (Neb.) 43; Belhaven (Miss.) 36; Reinhardt (Ga.) 32; Grand View (Iowa) 30; Vanguard (Calif.) 18; Houston-Victoria (Texas) 17; Friends (Kan.) 14; St. Francis (Ill.) 5; Rio Grande (Ohio) 5; Tennessee Wesleyan 3.