College softball Power 10 rankings have a new look after an exciting opening weekend
The first week of college softball is in the books. So much went down this weekend, so we have a lot of movement in my Power 10 after some upsets and surprises.
1. Oklahoma | LW: 1
Oklahoma stays on top at 4-0 with two wins over top-10 teams in Duke and Washington. How about that collegiate opening for Kasidi Pickering, hitting a grand slam to start her career at OU.
BOOMER: The pivotal moments that have defined Oklahoma softball’s rise to dominance
2. Tennessee | LW: 2
I am leaving Tennessee at No. 2 after a 3-0 start to the season against UT Arlington and Baylor (twice). Now comes a lot of movement below.
3. Texas | LW: 5
Texas is all the way up at No. 3 after an explosive opening weekend in a really impressive showing. The Longhorns are off to a 5-0 start with two wins over UCLA — including an absolutely dominating 16-0 win in five innings. On Saturday alone, Texas hit .534 as a team with eight home runs — led by Viviana Martinez. This team is looking really good to start the season.
HOOK EM: No. 5 Texas softball belts two grand slams in 16-0 rout of No. 8 UCLA
4. Georgia | LW: 6
Georgia moves up to No. 4 after a 5-0 start. Sydney Chambley had a hot start to the season hitting .500 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
5. Washington | LW: NR
I’ve got Washington all the way up at No. 5 after Week 1. The Huskies started out with an 8-0 win over Nebraska where Ruby Meylan threw a complete-game shutout, and then they pushed Oklahoma to extras, falling by just one run. Meylan struck out seven Sooners and that loss was more impressive than a lot of other wins this weekend.
PAST RANKINGS: Preseason
6. Duke | LW: 8
Duke fell to Oklahoma 3-0 in its season opener but kept it a really competitive game with the dominant Sooners. The Blue Devils bounced back with three wins in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
7. Oklahoma State | LW: NR
I moved Oklahoma State into my Power 10 after a great opening weekend showing. The Cowgirls run-ruled UCLA and saw success from Lexi Kilfoyl, Tallen Edwards, Caroline Wang and Megan Bloodworth. This team is shaping up to have a great season with offensive success early on.
8. Florida State | LW: 4
I moved down FSU after a surprise opening day loss to Charlotte. The Seminoles did follow that up with a big win over the 49ers the following day, but I couldn’t justify any of these teams below them after they put up better performances opening weekend.
OPENING DAY RECAP: Charlotte knocks off No. 4 Florida State, Jordy Bahl injured and more
9. Stanford | LW: 3
Stanford fell twice to Kentucky, even with Nijaree Canady in the circle. I am not ready to move this team out of the top 10 since it is so early in the season, but the two losses do warrant a pretty big drop from me.
UPSET: Kentucky upsets No. 3 Stanford, second top-5 softball team to fall on opening weekend
10. Clemson | LW: 7
The Tigers took down Oregon 3-2 but then lost to Missouri, a team that will surely make a huge jump in national polls after an incredible opening weekend. It’s still super early, so I’m not dropping Clemson out yet, and clearly Missouri is a team to be reckoned with this season.
Dropped out: UCLA (9), Arkansas (10)
That’s my Power 10. Let me know your thoughts and how you would order the top 10 softball teams in the country.