Toros Drop to No. 20 in Latest NFCA Poll

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Having dropped three of four games at San Francisco State last weekend, the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros dropped 15 spots to No. 20 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.

At No. 20, the Toros are joined by CCAA's Sonoma State at No. 14, with Grand Canyon at No. 7 topping the NCAA West Region schools included in the poll, with UC San Diego receiving votes.

The Toros are led by arguably the best 1-2 combination in the circle in senior aces Stephanie Jimenez and Lauren Harper (pictured), who have garnered all 15 wins for CSUDH this year.

Currently at 9-2, Jimenez has risen to an even higher level coming off a stellar junior season, sitting 2nd in both ERA and wins, and 4th in strikeouts.

Harper, meanwhile, sits 2nd in strikeouts and 7th in both wins and ERA.

Offensively, CSUDH boasts a trio of batters hitting over .481, led by newcomer Adriana Sanchez.

The transfer leads the league in home runs, runs, hits and slugging percentage, sits 2nd in batting average, 4th in RBI, 6th in on-base percentage.

Senior Christina Chavez, meanwhile, sits 2nd in SLG%, 4th in HR, 5th in hits and BA, 7th in OB%, 8th in RBI and 11th in runs, while Brittany Brenner continues her breakout junior year offensively, placing 4th in OB%, 6th in BA, runs and hits, 7th in SLG, 10th in HR and 20th in RBI.

This marks the first time in four weeks that CSUDH hasn't been in the top 5 after three-straight weeks at No. 5, with the all-time highest rank coming at No. 2 on March 8, 2006.

West Texas A&M moved into the top spot from No. 3, with Valdosta State dropping to No. 2 this week as Indianapolos, Armstrong Atlantic and SE Oklahoma filled out the top 5.

In the NCAA west, Grand Canyon moved up six to No. 6, iwth Sonoma State checking in at No. 14 to top the two CCAA schools included in this week's poll.

UC San Diego and Dixie State both received votes.

CSUDH, currently at 15-7 and 7-5 CCAA, sits in 4th place in the league standings and hosts the co-league leading Tritons this weekend, with Friday set for a 1 pm start and Saturday set for 12 noon. All four games can be heard live on the Toro Sports Network, with live stats available for all four games as well.

Print Friendly Version