Softball Finishes Eighth in Final NFCA Top-25 Poll
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jun. 5, 2014) - The LIU Post softball team has rounded out the 2014 campaign at No. 8 in the NFCA Division II Top-25 Poll, announced last week. National champion West Texas A&M claimed the top spot in the ledger.
That ranking ties the Pioneers' best finish in the tally from 2007 and 2008. The green and gold also cracked the Top-10 in 2011, when they were slotted ninth in the last poll, following an appearance in the College World Series. Since the start of the new millennium, LIU Post has landed a spot in the final NFCA Top-25 census a total of 10 times.
The Pioneers went 50-11 in 2014, posting the most wins in school history. After winning three straight elimination games to capture the East Coast Conference title, LIU Post received the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Division II East Region Championship. The green and gold swept through the sub-regional, culminating in a thrilling 7-6, 13-inning victory over Southern New Hampshire.
Then, in the East Super Regional, LIU Post and Caldwell split the opening two contests, forcing one last deciding game to see which squad would hoist the regional championship trophy. Behind a complete-game shutout from junior pitcher
Megan Salcido (Brawley, Calif.), along with a pair of homers, the Pioneers blanked the ninth-ranked Cougars, 3-0, to secure their spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship.
At the College World Series, LIU Post, despite an 0-2 record, faced their toughest opposition yet to kick off the competition. Head Coach
Jamie Apicella's
(Holbrook, N.Y.) team drew No. 1 West Texas A&M, and lost to the Lady Buffs, 8-1. Two days later, the Pioneers' magical season came to an end, as they dropped a 6-2 decision to West Chester.
Though the green and gold lose four starters, LIU Post brings back ECC Player of the Year and NFCA All-American
Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y.) to lead the way in 2015. She batted .438 this past year, while crushing a program-record 25 home runs and driving in 77 RBIs. Her 25 homers ranked third-best in the country, and came up just three shy of tying the NCAA Division II single-season mark.
Final 2014 NFCA Division II Poll1. West Texas A&M (16 First-Place Votes)
2. Valdosta State
3. Dixie State
4. Southeastern Oklahoma State
5. Armstrong Atlantic State
6. West Chester
7. Wayne State (Mich.)
8. LIU Post9. St. Mary's (Texas)
10. North Georgia
11. Cal State - Monterey Bay
12. Alabama-Huntsville
13. Missouri-St. Louis
14. Caldwell
15. Augustana (S.D.)
16. Angelo State
17. West Virginia Wesleyan
18. Tampa
19. California Baptist
20. Emporia State
21. Indianapolis
22. Anderson (S.C.)
23. California (Pa.)
24. Winona State
25. Rollins
Others Receiving Votes: Central Washington, Humboldt State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Shippensburg, Southern New Hampshire, Texas Woman's, Truman State, UVa-Wise, Wingate