The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: DANIEL SHIREY Shortstop Kristin Schnake has been a key player for the softball team this season. [Click to enlarge]

In the latest release of the top-25 national polls, the Georgia softball team has climbed into the top-10 at No. 7 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and No. 8 in the USA Today/NFCA poll.

The Bulldogs are 15-2 and are coming off of their second-ever win over a No. 1-ranked opponent having defeated then top-ranked Washington, 2-0, this past Sunday. The win over the Huskies, who fell into a tie for second in the USA Softball poll and third in the NFCA poll, capped a 3-1 weekend at the Easton SEC/Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge where the Bulldogs also defeated 24th-ranked Baylor twice by the mercy rule, 12-1 and 9-0. The last time Georgia was ranked as high as No. 7 was the opening week of the 2005 season.

Georgia returns to action Wednesday when it opens Southeastern Conference play against the nation's new No. 1-ranked team, the Florida Gators, who are 22-2 and carry the top spot in both top-25 polls. The Gators will host the Bulldogs for a double header with first pitch of game one slated for 4 p.m. ET.

After having played against then No. 1 Washington in two of its last three games, the twin bill against now No. 1 Florida will give Georgia a stretch of four out of five games against the nation's top-ranked team.

- Georgia Sports Communications

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