We’ve got a major shakeup in the top 5 this week! Who’s up, who’s down, and what happens next?
First, my darling of the past several weeks, Tennessee, fell from the #1 spot this week. Tennessee was the only team in the top 5 to play ranked team last weekend, but they did not rise to the moment, and lost 2 of 3 games to Florida.
Karlyn Pickens, who has been so dominant all year, did not have a good weekend. She started strong in game 1 pitching 3 innings in relief to secure a victory for Tennessee, but then everything fell apart. She came in the 6th inning in game 2 with a 2-2 tie, gave up 3 earned runs and took the loss. She then started game 3 but was pulled in the 5th inning after giving up another 3 earned runs. Not a good weekend for Karlyn Pickens, but hats off to Florida and ace pitcher Keagan Rothrock for getting the job done and knocking off the #1 team in the nation.
America’s new top ranked team is a familiar one, Texas. Teagan Kavan has been just as effective as ever so far this season, and her numbers are even tracking slightly better this season where she has a 1.81 ERA and 1.34 strike out per inning average after 77 innings. But Texas can’t get too comfortable, they have a gauntlet of tough ranked opponents over the next 2.5 weeks which includes a series against #15 ranked Texas A&M at home, then at #7 ranked Alabama, then a home series with #3 ranked Oklahoma. Texas’s schedule is going to feel like the WCWS in April.
Texas Tech moves up one spot to #2, and they have nowhere near as tough of a schedule as Texas over the next few weeks. Their toughest opponents for the remainder of the regular season are two teams ranked right at the edge of the top #25 in Utah and Arizona State. If Texas falters over the next few weeks Texas Tech could easily move into the #1 spot to close the season.
Oklahoma moved up to #3 after a strong 3-0 showing (which included two mercy rule wins) over the weekend against conference rival Ole Miss. They play #20 ranked LSU this weekend.
Tennessee moves down to #4 after their getting roughed up over the weekend by Florida, who is now the #5 team in the nation.
Over the next 5 weeks of the season I am predicting CHAOS in the top 5 as conference play continues. Stay tuned and let’s see how it all works out.
