Armstrong Softball Ranked No. 21 In NFCA Top 25 Preseason Poll

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State University softball squad is ranked No. 21 in the 2012 NFCA Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll, released Wednesday by the organization.

The Pirates are one of two Peach Belt Conference schools to appear in the rankings, garnering 80 points, while preseason PBC pick North Georgia comes in at No. 3. Armstrong finished second in the PBC and advanced to the NCAA Championships last season for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons. 

Armstrong returns five All-Conference players from last season's 31-14 squad, including consensus first-team All-American second baseman April Jowers and outfielder Shelby Duff. 

Two other opponents on the Pirates' schedule appear in the poll along with North Georgia; Armstrong will face No. 14 Bloomsburg twice during the FMU Patriot Invitational on March 10-11 and No. 19 Tampa once during the Saint Leo Invitational on Feb. 18.

Click here to view the complete 2012 NFCA Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll.

The Pirates open the 2012 season on Saturday, February 4, hosting Florida Tech at 1:00 p.m. as a part of Armstrong's 35th Anniversary of Women's Athletics celebration.