Salisbury Ranked Second in NFCA Preseason Poll
Sea Gulls Seek Fourth Straight Softball World Series Berth in 2005

The Salisbury University softball team will carry a number two national ranking into its 2005 season opener on February 27, as determined by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, which released its preseason NCAA Division III poll on Tuesday.

Salisbury returns 13 letterwinners from last year's 41-8 squad which earned its third straight World Series appearance and finished third in the nation.

Junior All-America hurler Lacey Lister (31-4, 0.66 ERA in 2004) and power hitting first baseman Erin Ruest (.346, 17 doubles, 52 RBI) are among the top returnees for Head Coach Margie Knight's squad, which will also be trying to capture its ninth straight Capital Athletic Conference title in 2005.

Defending national champion St. Thomas (MN) is ranked first in the NFCA poll, with 2004 runner-up Moravian tied with Salisbury at #2 in the preseason ranking.

The complete NFCA poll can be accessed online at www.nfca.org.

Click here to view Salisbury's 2005 schedule