Softball Moves to No. 19 Nationally in Final Coaches' Poll
TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texas A&M University–Texarkana softball team climbed to No. 19 in the final NAIA Softball Coaches' Poll, marking another milestone in a standout season as the Eagles head into postseason play.
TAMUT enters the postseason with a 34–12 overall record and a 21–15 mark in conference play, currently riding a six-game winning streak. The Eagles have remained one of the hottest teams in the country down the stretch, building momentum at the perfect time of year.
Defensively, the Eagles continue to lead at the national level, currently sitting No. 1 in the nation in runners caught stealing percentage, a testament to the impact behind the plate from Skyler Martin and Jacqueline Hernandez, who have anchored the team's defensive presence throughout the season.
The Eagles now turn their attention to the Red River Athletic Conference Championships, set to take place this weekend in Alexandria, Louisiana. As the No. 3 seed, TAMUT will open tournament play against No. 6 seed Xavier University of Louisiana on Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at the Champion Sportsplex.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Only six teams hold steady in the final Netting Professionals NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 poll of the 2026 season with Southern Oregon, Missouri Baptist, Evangel (Mo.), and Midland (Neb.). We also have a new No. 1 team as conference tournaments are in full swing, with Madonna (Mich.) narrowly in front of the previous No. 1 and now No. 2 Oregon Tech. The trend of split first-place votes continued this week as well, with No. 1 through No. 3 all earning a share. Then, Eastern Oregon, which slid one spot into a tie at No. 6, earned the final first-place vote for the week.
Nine teams either ranked or receiving votes have already punched a ticket to the NAIA Softball Opening Rounds, with No. 1 Madonna, No. 4 Science & Arts (Okla.), No. 8 Missouri Baptist, No. 14 Evangel (Mo.), No. 15 LSU Alexandria (La.), No. 21 Saint Xavier (Ill.), No. 23 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 24 Midland (Neb.), and receiving votes Williams Baptist (Ark.).
| RANK | LAST TIME | INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Madonna (Mich.) [5] | 43-4 | 485 |
| 2 | 1 | Oregon Tech [10] | 40-6 | 481 |
| 3 | 4 | Southeastern (Fla.) [2] | 41-5 | 477 |
| 4 | 7 | Science and Arts (Okla.) | 44-8 | 438 |
| 5 | 2 | Oklahoma City | 43-7 | 414 |
| T-6 | 5 | Eastern Oregon [1] | 37-9 | 405 |
| T-6 | 6 | Southern Oregon | 37-13 | 405 |
| 8 | 8 | Missouri Baptist | 37-10 | 375 |
| 9 | 10 | Keiser (Fla.) | 41-7 | 365 |
| 10 | 11 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 38-6 | 363 |
| 11 | 9 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) | 34-9 | 352 |
| 12 | 13 | William Carey (Miss.) | 34-11 | 321 |
| 13 | 12 | Mobile (Ala.) | 32-13 | 296 |
| 14 | 14 | Evangel (Mo.) | 39-9 | 246 |
| 15 | 16 | LSU Alexandria (La.) | 31-14 | 241 |
| 16 | 15 | Grand View (Iowa) | 34-14 | 232 |
| 17 | 18 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 34-16 | 176 |
| 18 | 19 | Coastal Georgia | 34-10 | 174 |
| 19 | 21 | Texas A&M-Texarkana | 34-12 | 162 |
| 20 | 17 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 34-15 | 152 |
| 21 | 23 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 37-12 | 132 |
| 22 | 20 | Marian (Ind.) | 31-14 | 121 |
| 23 | RV | Indiana Wesleyan | 37-11 | 113 |
| 24 | 24 | Midland (Neb.) | 36-12 | 110 |
| 25 | RV | Faulkner (Ala.) | 33-12 | 87 |
| Dropped from Top 25: St. Thomas (Fla.) and Tennessee Southern | ||||
| Receiving Votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 83; Benedictine (Kan.) 72; Tennessee Southern 49; Saint Francis (Ind.) 41; Arizona Christian 33; Dordt (Iowa) 31; College of Idaho 23; Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) 21; Campbellsville (Ky.) 16; St. Francis (Ill.) 15; British Columbia (B.C.) 12; Hope International (Calif.) 11; Indiana Tech 9; Ottawa (Kan.) 9; Williams Baptist (Ark.) 9; Georgia Gwinnett 8; Northwestern (Iowa) 4; Oklahoma Wesleyan 3 | ||||