Upstate Softball Ranked 47th in NCAA RPI, Continue as Nation's Top Defense
5/6/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
NCAA RPI Ranking | Upstate's NCAA Statistical Ranking Report
Spartanburg, S.C. – For the third consecutive week, the USC Upstate softball team owns the nation's top defense in the latest statistical ranking report issued by the NCAA, and despite not playing a game last week, the Spartans did not suffer much in the latest RPI ranking released by the NCAA Monday. The Spartans are 47th in the latest ranking report, down just one spot from last week's ranking.
The NCAA RPI is one tool in making at-large selections for the NCAA Tournament. Upstate opens play in the 2013 A-Sun Tournament Thursday morning at 10:00 as the No. 2 seed. The Spartans will play the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 3 Florida Gulf Coast and No. 6 Stetson.
Upstate has been ranked in the RPI's Top 50 in each of the last six weeks. The Spartans peaked at No. 37 four weeks ago, held the ranking for a week before slipping to No. 38 two weeks ago. Last week, the Spartans were 46th. The No. 37 ranking achieved this year is the highest the Spartans have ever been ranked in the RPI.
At No. 47, Upstate remained the top-ranked team in the A-Sun. The conference boasts seven schools ranked in the Top 100 in the latest RPI ranking. Florida Gulf Coast is the second-highest ranked A-Sun team in the RPI at No. 51 and is followed by North Florida (No. 52), Kennesaw State (No. 53), Lipscomb (No. 57), Jacksonville (No. 71) and Stetson (No. 85) in the Top 100. Jacksonville is the only A-Sun school ranked in the Top 100 not to be in this year's A-Sun Tournament.
Upstate owns a .982 fielding percentage and tops the nation for the third consecutive week. The Spartans are .002 ahead of UCLA in second place. Impressive overall, Upstate was even more impressive during A-Sun play, committing just three errors and leading the conference with a .994 fielding percentage in 23 A-Sun games. Previously, Upstate topped the nation in batting average three weeks ago, marking two different statistical categories the Spartans led the nation this year. In all, Upstate ranks in the Top 20 in six different categories.
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