LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 4, 2016) - After clinching the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II Tournament, the LIU Post softball team has been listed at No. 23 in Wednesday's National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top-25 Poll.

The Pioneers, who were ranked 22nd earlier this season, advanced to their fourth-straight East Coast Conference Championship final last week.

In postseason play, sophomore outfielder Samantha Marrone (Holbrook, N.Y.) is hitting at a team-leading .583 clip. Freshman first baseman Ashley Melendez (Levittown, N.Y.) has a .444 average with a home run and two RBIs.

Freshman catcher and East Coast Conference Rookie of the Year Julia Seader (Piscataway, N.J.) is swinging at a .333 mark with a homer and a team-high four RBIs.

Fellow freshman and ECC Pitcher of the Year Hannah Olshevski (Robbinsville, N.J.) has posted a 1-1 record in two starts, while striking out seven batters and compiling a 1.00 earned-run average.

Head Coach Jamie Apicella and his LIU Post squad open up NCAA Tournament play on Thursday (May 5), when they face third-seeded Molloy College at 9 a.m. at Adelphi University's Janet L. Ficke Field in Garden City, N.Y.

2016 NFCA Division II Poll - May 4, 2016
1. West Texas A&M (16 First-Place Votes) - 400 Points
2. Indianapolis - 384 Points
3. North Alabama - 365 Points
4. North Georgia - 351 Points
5. Humboldt State - 337 Points
6. Missouri-St. Louis - 313 Points
7. Arkansas Tech - 304 Points
8. Saint Leo - 276 Points
9. St. Mary's - 268 Points
10. Wayne State (Mich.) - 260 Points
11. Missouri Western - 242 Points
12. West Virginia Wesleyan - 221 Points
13. Caldwell - 194 Points
14. Azusa Pacific - 186 Points
15. Southern Arkansas - 180 Points
16. Armstrong State - 162 Points
17. Valdosta State - 132 Points
18. Lenoir-Rhyne - 122 Points
19. Bloomsburg - 110 Points
20. California (Pa.) - 91 Points
21. Central Washington - 82 Points
22. West Florida - 58 Points
23. LIU Post - 53 Points
24. Chico State - 30 Points
T-25. Catawba - 18 Points
T-25. Texas Woman's - 18 Points

Receiving Votes: Adelphi, Charleston, Grand Valley State, Central Oklahoma, Texas A&M-Commerce, Minnesota State, Alabama-Huntsville, UC San Diego