NFCA RANKINGS (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Augustana closed out the 2012 season No. 5 in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll, the Association released Wednesday.
Augustana's 5-4 loss to the eventual national champion Valdosta State in the NCAA Championship elimination game ended the Vikings' season with an overall record of 53-12.
The No. 5 ranking is highest held by the Vikings this season.
VSU (58-5) earned all 16 first-place votes to take the No. 1 spot. National semi-finalist Central Oklahoma (46-8) finished the voting in second, while national runner-up UC San Diego (45-23) and the other national semi-finalist Kutztown (52-7) ended the season tied for third.
Conference-opponents Minnesota State (49-10) and Winona State (44-12) also received spots in the final poll of the season. The Mavericks checked in at No. 13 and the Warriors were No. 19.
The 53 wins by Augustana this season is the most since 2000 when the Vikings finished 58-12. It's also the most wins under head coach
Gretta Melsted.
