Softball Team Enters Season Ranked Eighth in Nation

February 20, 2008

February 20, 2008, Greencastle, Ind. - Coming off a 37-7 season, the program's first NCAA appearance and a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, DePauw enters the 2008 season ranked eighth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Defending national champion Linfield tops the poll with all eight first-place votes for 200 points. Wartburg is second with 176 points followed by Plattsburgh State, Louisiana College, St. Thomas, Moravian, Redlands and DePauw. The Tigers totaled 150 points.

DePauw returns eight letterwinners including seven starters from last year's record-setting squad. Among the returning is third team all-America pitcher Megan Soultz (pictured). The sophomore posted a 19-5 record and a 0.93 earned run average in her rookie season.

Junior catcher Rachel Gill and junior outfielder Chelsy Patterson were first team all-region players last year and Gill was the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year and both are back this season.

The Tigers were an at-large selection to the NCAA tournament and swept the regional with a 4-0 record. At the NCAA finals, the Tigers opened with a win over Moravian before bowing out with losses to Linfield and Plattsburgh State.

DePauw opens the season on Saturday, February 23, when it travels to 13th-ranked Emory. The Eagles were 33-8 last year and are off to a 3-0 start this season. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for Noon.

 

Back