Softball Holds Steady at No. 5 in Latest NFCA Poll

Junior Adriana Sanchez has made a huge impact in her first year as a Toro

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After taking 3 of 4 from Chico State two weekends ago to open the 2013 homestand and using a bye week to prepare for Cal State San Bernardino this weekend, the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros held steady at No. 5 on this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.

Staying at No. 5, the Toros remain as the top-highest seed in the NCAA West, and are joined by CCAA schools Sonoma State at No. 18, with former No. 23 CS Monterey Bay having dropped out of this week's poll.

Led by a lethal offensive trio in Brittany Brenner, Adriana Sanchez (pictured) and Christina Chavez, as well as a pair of aces in the circle in Stephanie Jimenez and Lauren Harper, CSUDH sits at 11-3 overall and 3-1 in league play, trailing Humboldt State at 4-0.

Sanchez has made a huge impact on the league as a transfer, leading the CCAA in home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage, and sitting 2nd in batting average, hits and RBI.

Brenner, meanwhile, leads the league in batting average and sits in the top 5 in runs, hits and walks, with Chavez also in the top 5 in hits, doubles and triples.

In the circle, Jimenez has continued 2013 where she left off, pacing the league in ERA and holding the second spot in strikeouts and saves. Harper, meanwhile, sits in the top 5 in wins and strikeouts.

The last time CSUDH reached a No. 5 ranking before last week was March 7, 2012, with the all-time highest rank coming at No. 2 on March 8, 2006.

CSUDH will host the Coyotes in a pair of twinbills Friday and Saturday, with each set for a 12 noon start. All four games can be heard live on the Toro Sports Network.

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