Unbeaten Tide jumps to No. 1

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama softball team has moved to the top of the national rankings for the second time in school history.

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The Crimson Tide (10-0) is ranked No. 1 in both the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 and the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll after winning six games last week. Alabama was ranked No. 2 in both polls after the first week of the regular season. Top-ranked Arizona lost three games over the weekend.

The Tide was ranked No. 1 for one week last season in early May in the next-to-last polls of the regular season.

'We all know that right now it's an honor but we really want to be No. 1 in June,' Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. 'I guess it was really exciting last year, and now we started the season so high and we had two good weekends. We just tried to play each game and whatever happened in the rankings happened.

'It's a great honor to everybody involved with the program from past players to current players to coaches and staff. I think with the number of returning players we have, it's great respect for them and the start we've had to begin the season.'

Alabama's players were happy to hear the news, but know the rankings aren't important at this stage of the season.

'Being No. 1 is amazing feeling,' junior third baseman Kelley Montalvo said. 'Everyone knows that. It's awesome because we've worked so hard.'

Said freshman outfielder Whitney Larsen, 'It feels great to be a part of such a successful program. The coaches really don't stress the fact that we're ranked high because rankings truly don't mean a lot. It all depends on how you produce and the outcomes of the games.'

Montalvo knows what it's like to play against a highly-ranked team, so she knows the Tide's opponents will be motivated by the ranking.

'Basically right now it means we can't take anything lightly,' she said. 'You have to go out and play every team like they're No. 1 too. No. 1 doesn't mean anything in a way. Anyone can come take it away. Since we're No. 1 now we have a big target on our back. It's going to take a lot of work to stay up there. We know that.

'To be hunted is a different pressure, I would have to say. We've got to take it like we're not No. 1, ignore the fact and take it like we're going to go after them.'

Alabama got half the 20 first-place votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25. Second-ranked Arizona State got three first-place votes, with third-ranked Northwestern receiving four. Texas A&M, ranked fourth, got two first-place votes and defending national champion Arizona got one.

The Tide received 22 of a possible 28 first-place votes in the coaches poll. Second-ranked Northwestern and fourth-ranked Arizona State each received one first-place vote, with third-ranked Texas A&M getting four first-place votes.

Alabama will play in the Florida International Fun in the Sun Tournament in Miami on Friday through Sunday. The Tide will face Illinois, UConn and host Florida International in the tournament.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.