Kansas City, Mo. – The Central Methodist University softball team began the 2021 season unranked. But after starting the season 12-1, the Eagles jumped in the Top-10 to land in the No. 9 spot in the first Top-25 Coaches' Poll of the 2021 season.
Grand View is the other Heart member to be featured in the Top-25, as the Vikings are currently recieiving votes.
CMU had a busy non-conference slate with multiple tournaments and matchups against Top-20 teams. Convincing wins against No. 14 Central Baptist College and No. 18 Morningside put the Eagles in position to jump into the national spotlight. CMU's only loss of the season came against No. 2 Science & Arts, where the Eagles lost by a score of 6-2 on March 6
Central is currently ranked No. 3 in the NAIA in doubles per game (2.733) and in batting average (0.407), and No. 4 in RBI per game (8.267), total doubles (41) and batters struck out (133). They also sit in the top-10 for other six categories.
Junior pitcher Keighlan Cronin is ranked No. 5 in opp batting average (0.110) and in hits allowed per 9 (2.52). She boasts a 6-0 overall record and owns a 1.26 earned run average.
The Eagles are set to start conference play with a doubleheader against Benedictine College Saturday, March 13 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.
To view the complete NAIA Top-25 poll, please click here.
Poll Methodology
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions.
- The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
- Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes"
- The frequency of the polls is bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) prior to the 2016-17 academic season. This change allows raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work between rating periods.
- For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.
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