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Mid-Major Power Rankings: Week 6

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•about 10 hours•

BradyVernon

Screenshot 2025-03-13 at 12.17.01 PM
Courtesy of Matt Reynolds/Liberty Athletics

As conference play begins around the nation, we’ll start our weekly power rankings for each Power Four Conference and Mid-Majors. These rankings are not reflective of the Softball America Top 25 poll, which takes in the votes of the entire Softball America staff. The Mid-Majors softball power rankings are Brady Vernon’s thoughts on each team’s current status.

Mid-Major Softball Tier 1 Teams

1. Liberty (21-4, 3-0 CUSA)

The Flames have handled their business for the most part and why they’re part of the Softball America Top 25. Three of Liberty’s four losses came by a combined four runs in Clearwater. Liberty has a big week coming up with a series at Western Kentucky, a doubleheader at Duke and a single contest in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels. After a slow start, Rachel Roupe is coming on strong after driving in 12 runs the past four games.

2. FAU (24-4, 3-0 AAC)

Personally, I thought the Owls weren’t playing that well the past few weeks, leading to losses to other Mid-Majors, Villanova and Austin Peay. However, they responded quite well, sweeping Wichita State by a combined score of 14-2. Freshman Bella Foran continues to be a hit machine leading the team with a .476 batting average.

3. Coastal Carolina (22-4)

If you didn’t believe in the Chants before this week, you probably do now after beating No. 10 South Carolina on Wednesday. The offense is explosive behind Georgia Hood, Delaney Keith, Keirstin Roose and Maddy Jennings, who have combined to hit 33 home runs. Nicolette Picone has become a legit ace for Coastal Carolina as well. They take an eight-game winning streak into Sun Belt play as they visit Troy.

4. Grand Canyon (20-3)

The Lopes only losses this season are to Top-10 Florida and Oregon, and a tough night at the plate against Wichita State’s Chloe Barber. Grand Canyon has taken down everyone else in front of them, such as Washington, Arizona State and Iowa State. The Lopes don’t have that marquee win as the teams in front of them do. Savannah Kirk is currently hitting .513 and is a perfect 23-for-23 in the stolen base department.

Mid-Major Softball Tier 2 Teams

5. Cal State Fullerton (16-9, 3-0 Big West)

The Titans certainly have that feel again of being a very annoying team in a regional that will challenge top-end competition. Cal State Fullerton has shown it can compete with the best with its win over LSU. However, being shut out by Saint Mary’s and losing by eight to Utah shows their volatility.

6. San Diego State (15-9)

The Aztecs could not have had a better Clearwater tournament and they could not have had a worse showing at Judi Garmin. San Diego State is somewhere in the middle of those two weekends. Although the Aztecs are going to need better outings from Cece Celluara and Dee Dee Hernandez.

Mid-Major Softball Tier 3 Teams

7. Austin Peay (23-3, 1-0 ASUN)

After starting 3-3, Austin Peay has won 20 straight games including a contest over FAU. Kylie Campbell and Kiley Hinton are the dynamic duo in the lineup. Campbell, a senior, is batting .451, having already set career-highs in doubles and home runs. Hinton already has nine doubles and seven home runs after only having three extra-base hits last season as a freshman.

8. Belmont (17-7, 1-0 MVC)

If Maya Johnson is in the circle, Belmont has a chance to ruin your day. The lefty has a 9-1 record with a 0.73 ERA. Belmont has already notched a series win over Maryland and victories over Arizona State and Purdue. They’ll have to go through Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa for the Missouri Valley.

9. Charlotte (14-12, 2-1 AAC)

The Clearwater experience was a bit of a baptism by fire for Courtney Breault’s group. The Niners have held leads against Texas A&M, Auburn, Clemson and San Diego State, and I think they’re growing up quickly. In the past week, they’ve won the series over North Texas and took down Kasey Ricard and Boston in a mid-week.

10. Boise State (19-6)

The Broncos can score with the best of them. Sophia Knight is building a case to be an All-American, leading the nation with a .588 batting average. That also means plenty of RBI chances for the powerful duo of Makenzie Butt and Mykenzie Hanna, who have combined to hit 22 home runs thus far. They’ll start Mountain West play at Fresno State.

11. Nevada (19-5)

The Wolfpack have found continued success under Victoria Hayward. Haley Painter and Aaliyah Jenkins are still hitting the ball well at an incredibly high clip. The rebuilt pitching staff is actually leading the Mountain West with a 2.32 ERA. Utah State transfer Hailey McLean highlights the staff with 1.68 ERA in 68-plus innings.

12. North Texas (18-7, 1-2 AAC)

North Texas missed a prime opportunity to start building up its American conference record by losing the series against Charlotte. The wins against Texas Tech and Georgia Tech stand out but the Mean Green haven’t been playing their best softball. It’ll be interesting how their fare against Wichita State, which is also looking to bounce back.

13. Texas State (15-6)

For as much success as Coastal Carolina has had, let’s not forget about the Bobcats. Texas State still has a strong pitching duo with Madison Azua and Emma Strood, who both have ERAs under 2.30. Texas A&M transfer Aiyana Coleman has found her home in San Marcos. She currently leads the team with a 1.404 OPS.

14. USF (21-8, 2-1)

The Bulls have been a stingy bunch this season, just ask top-ranked Texas. Lefty Payton Dixon has been good once again this season, having a sub-two ERA for a third straight year. Olivia Elliott, Josie Foreman and Alex Wilkes all have a batting average over .360 and an OPS over 1.000. They have a big road trip to Charlotte this weekend.

15. Jax State (19-7, 3-0)

The Gamecocks feel like the biggest threat to Liberty in Conference USA. Jax State already has a win over Mississippi State and gave both Alabama and Auburn a hard time. Kat Carter is certainly the ace of the staff, but Jaliyah Holmes, MacKinley Portillo and Jordan Eslinger have all pitched well this season. Jax State can solidify its place in CUSA with a series at New Mexico State.

ACC Power Rankings | SEC Power Rankings | Big 12 Power Rankings | Big Ten Power Rankings

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