Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Softball Ranked No. 24 in 2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll

Photo of Sara Miller in the NCAA East Region 2 Tournament Championship against Georgian Court. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. May 16, 2022 vs. Georgian Court in Regional Championship in Lakewood, N.J.
Photo of Sara Miller in the NCAA East Region 2 Tournament Championship against Georgian Court. Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta. May 16, 2022 vs. Georgian Court in Regional Championship in Lakewood, N.J.

NEWARK, Del. - - A run to the 2022 East Super Region has the Wilmington University softball team nationally ranked to begin the 2023 season in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.

The Wildcats, coached by Mike Shehorn entering his 10th season at the helm, are ranked 24th to start the 2013 season with 27 points. The Wildcats ended the 2022 season ranked No. 24 as well after falling to Adelphi, 2-1, in the best-of-three East Super Region series.

Wilmington went 38-20 overall last year and won their first East Region Sub-Region by defeating Franklin Pierce and Georgian Court (twice) on the Lions' home field to advance to the Super Regional. The Wildcats defeated Adelphi, 1-0, in the first game of the series before falling, 6-0 and 7-2.

The 2023 season begins with the NFCA Division II Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia in late February. The Wildcats will play #20 Lincoln Memorial, who played in the Southeast Super Regional last season, and #23 Alabama Huntsville on Friday, February 24. They will also play host Columbus State and Wingate, who received votes in the poll, on Saturday, February 25.

2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll
January 24 (Preseason)

Rank School                                Points 2022 Final Record 2022 Final Ranking

1       Rogers State (16)                 400             58-10                          1
2       Cal State Dominguez Hills    379             45-24                          2
3       UT Tyler                                370              49-9                           3
4       Auburn Montgomery           349             49-13                          4
5       North Georgia                      342             49-18                          5
6       Texas A&M-Kingsville          298             50-12                          8
7       Seton Hill                             282             42-12                          7
8       Central Oklahoma                278             48-13                          9
9       Adelphi                                 262             47-15                         10
10     Grand Valley State               252              43-8                          14
11     Cal State San Marcos           245             45-14                         11
12     Valdosta State                      243             38-14                         12
13     Augustana                            212             50-10                         13
14     Anderson                             165             40-10                         17
15     Kutztown                             153             40-15                         15
16     Indianapolis                         150             48-10                         19
17     Tampa                                  145             38-13                         16
18     Angelo State                        129             39-12                         21
19     Concordia Irvine                  118             46-10                         20
20     Lincoln Memorial                 105             39-20                         23
21     Lubbock Christian                 89              39-12                         18
22     Washburn                             54              45-15                         RV
23     UAH                                       48              41-17                         25
24     Wilmington                          27              38-20                         24
25     Sonoma State                       26              42-18                         RV

Receiving Votes: Southern Arkansas (22), Oklahoma Christian (17), West Virginia Wesleyan (10), Minnesota State (8), Wingate (7), Nova Southeastern (5), Rollins (4), Lenoir-Rhyne (3), Chico State (2), Drury (1).