By: Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma City maintains the No. 1 ranking in the second regular-season edition of the 2015 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Stars, with 529 points and 18-of-19 first-place votes, secured the top spot for the second-straight week. Oklahoma City has the highest winning percentage (.958) and the only one-loss team in the NAIA (23-1).

The next ranked teams through No. 7 all changed from last week: No. 2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), No. 3 Concordia (Calif.), No. 4 Saint Xavier (Ill.), No. 5 LSU Alexandria (La.), No. 6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and No. 7 St. Gregory’s (Okla.).

No. 2 Auburn Montgomery, the defending national champion, picked up the remaining first-place vote and 505 total points.

Oklahoma City had a 23-game winning streak to start the year and ran into then-No. 17 Houston-Victoria (Texas) on March 19. The two teams split a double-header, with Houston-Victoria taking the nightcap by a 6-4 score. The Stars are scheduled to next face Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on Thursday.
No. 19 Campbellsville (Ky.) had the most positive movement within the Top 25, sliding up five positions. With a 12-5 overall record, the Tigers have won five of seven contests.

No. 6 Lindsey Wilson tumbled down four spots for the largest fall.

Newcomers this week include No. 23 Mobile (Ala.) and No. 25 Corban (Ore.). Both teams are appearing for the first time since the 2013 season. Corban last checked in the No. 12 spot on June 5, 2013. The Rams were last recognized on April 2, 2013 (No. 22.)

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences /independent /unaffiliated groupings. The third regular-season Top 25 will be announced on March 31.

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

Notes: (all information dating back to 2000) There have been 32 different ranked teams this year (through three polls)… Eighteen programs have held a Top 25 ranking in each of the three polls… No. 5 LSU Alexandria (La.) is in its second-season of being eligible for the polls and has held a top-10 ranking for 12-straight weeks… Preseason No. 1 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) is looking to become 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… Last year, there were 36 different teams ranked, with 16 of them ranked in every poll... Auburn Montgomery and Concordia (Calif.) were the only No. 1 ranked teams in 2014... Prior to the 2014 postseason edition, the 18-straight No. 1 rankings for Concordia was the longest stretch for any program since former member California Baptist rattled through 24-consecutive polls from 2009-11… Oklahoma City leads all active schools with 104-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 67-consecutive mentions and No. 3 Concordia (Calif.) is right behind at 58-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 Concordia with 24, Oklahoma City with 22, former member Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 18, Thomas (Ga.) with 13, Mobile (Ala.) with five, former member Lubbock Christian (Texas) with four, Auburn Montgomery, Cal State San Marcos and Oklahoma Baptist with two apiece – Oregon Tech and former member Shorter (Ga.) each have one.

2015 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – March 24

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	2015 RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	1	Oklahoma City (18)	23-1	529
2	3	Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (1)	16-4	505
3	4	Concordia (Calif.)	30-4	495
4	7	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	19-2-1	454
5	6	LSU Alexandria	13-3	451
6	2	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	17-6	427
7	5	St. Gregory's (Okla.)	13-3	426
8	8	Cal State San Marcos	20-5	422
9	9	William Carey (Miss.)	20-7	414
10	12	Thomas (Ga.)	26-7	361
11	10	Central Methodist (Mo.)	13-6	346
12	11	Vanguard (Calif.)	27-7	338
13	13	Oregon Tech	20-7	320
14	14	Belhaven (Miss.)	13-9	267
15	18	Davenport (Mich.)	20-3	264
16	15	Biola (Calif.)	21-9	255
17	16	Concordia (Ore.)	24-10	249
18	17	Houston-Victoria (Texas)	19-10	242
19	24	Campbellsville (Ky.)	12-5	230
20	23	Indiana Wesleyan	23-2	206
21	20	Science & Arts (Okla.)	19-4	200
22	19	Reinhardt (Ga.)	15-13	180
23	RV	Mobile (Ala.)	12-7	147
24	25	USC Beaufort (S.C.)	16-8	122
25	RV	Corban (Ore.)	23-6	88

Others Receiving Votes: Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 85; Brenau (Ga.) 75; Georgia Gwinnett 50; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 34; Dickinson State (N.D.) 33; Saint Mary (Kan.) 31; Bellevue (Neb.) 30; San Diego Christian (Calif.) 20; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 16; Doane (Neb.) 11; Taylor (Ind.) 10; Kansas Wesleyan 7; Southern Oregon 7; Cornerstone (Mich.) 6; Indiana Southeast 4; Grand View (Iowa) 3; Bryan (Tenn.) 3.