LIVINGSTON, Ala. - For the first time in the 2026 season, the University of West Alabama Softball team is ranked in the NFCA Coaches Poll Top-25, coming in at No. 23.
West Alabama (43-12-1) ascends to No. 23 in the country after claiming the GSC Tournament Championship on Saturday, the program's first since 1997. In their title run, UWA defeated Valdosta State, AUM, UAH, and Trevecca Nazarene to complete a flawless march to the GSC Title.
The Tigers' impressive 2026 campaign has been built off of dominant pitching and elite power at the plate. West Alabama currently holds a 2.10 Team ERA which ranks 14th in the country. Eleanor De Block leads the way with a 1.51 ERA in 185.1 innings, ranking 10th in the nation individually. De Block has also recorded 11 complete game shutouts which is the second most in all of Division II. UWA's Game Two starter, Megan Roe, is 16-2 on the year with a 2.55 ERA as the Tigers possess one of the top pitching duos in the entire country.Â
At the plate, West Alabama has blasted 62 home runs as a team which puts them ninth in the country in that category. Ella Watson, ShaKeria Washington, Ann Marie Stanbridge, Trinity Hatcher, and Kayla Morris have all hit double digit home runs this season.
Reeling off a GSC Tournament Championship, the Tigers are primed and ready to open up the NCAA Tournament on Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. CST matchup against Montevallo in Pensacola, FL.
