Marietta softball falls one spot in NFCA poll
Pioneers now No. 11 in nation with 23-3 record; take on No. 5 Muskingum Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Marietta Field

Apr. 12, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College softball team, which is having one of its finest years in school history, moved down one spot to No. 11 in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III poll. The second regular season poll was released Wednesday (Apr. 12) afternoon.

The Pioneers went 8-2 since the last poll was released and are now 23-3 overall. They are also 7-1 and in first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta had its doubleheader match-up with No. 5 Muskingum (23-3, 5-1 OAC) moved from Wednesday to Thursday. The twinbill, which will take place at Marietta Field at 3:30 p.m., showcases the top two teams in the OAC and could have major OAC Tournament (May 5-6) ramifications.

St. Thomas (Minn.), the 2005 NCAA champion, remained in first place and received seven of the eight first place votes after opening the season 25-1. Rowan (N.J.) (27-2) was second, while Ithaca (N.Y.) (24-2) was third and had the other first place vote. Louisiana College (27-2) is ranked fourth, and Chapman (Calif.) (23-8) and Muskingum were tied for fifth.

Marietta's school record for victories in a season is 25, which was set in 1996, the only year that the Pioneers won the OAC Tournament and made the NCAA Tournament. Muskingum has won the Conference Tournament every year since 1998. Capital was the last team, other than Muskingum, to win it; the Crusaders won in 1997.

Pioneer Head Coach Jeanne Arbuckle has now evened her career coaching record at 318-318. She will look to move over .500 with a pair of victories over rival Muskingum on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The Pioneers and the Muskies split a doubleheader at Muskingum a year ago.