MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Fresh off its 2025 Gulf South Conference regular season championship, the Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks softball team has been ranked No. 12 in the first NFCA/GoRout Division II Top. 25 Softball Coaches Poll of the season.
 
Two-time defending champion UT Tyler was selected as the preseason favorite following its second straight undefeated World Series run.



A LOOK AT THE WARHAWKS
Under the direction of 2025 GSC Head Coach of the Year Scottie Wilkes Laney, AUM looks to build on its successful 2025 campaign. The Warhawks return 10 letterwinners and welcome nine new faces to the 2026 roster.
 
Among the returners are 2025 All-South Region selections Reese Cauley, Chloe Baynes, and Chelisa Newsome. As a freshman, Cauley earned DII CCA Pitcher of the Year honors, was named the 2025 Gulf South Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, and secured First Team All-GSC recognition. Baynes collected First Team All-Region honors while earning her second straight First Team All-GSC selection. Newsome was also named First Team All-GSC and garnered Second Team All-Region honors.
 
The Warhawks will face two NFCA-ranked opponents during the 2026 season, beginning at the Gulf Shores Invitational against No. 20 Saint Leo on Friday, Jan. 30, followed by a matchup with No. 18 Rogers State the next day. AUM will also face Wingate, which is receiving votes in the NFCA poll, as part of the Columbus State Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 8.

2026 NFCA/GoRout Division II Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
1/20/26 (Preseason)
 

RANK	TEAM (First-Place Votes)	POINTS	RECORD
1	UT Tyler (16)	400	0-0
2	Tampa	383	0-0
3	Western Washington	369	0-0
4	Pace	350	0-0
5	Saginaw Valley State	338	0-0
6	North Georgia	318	0-0
7	Shippensburg	302	0-0
8	West Texas A&M	272	0-0
9	Augustana	265	0-0
10	Francis Marion	264	0-0
11	Central Oklahoma	243	0-0
12	AUM	239	0-0
13	Angelo State	205	0-0
14	Cal State San Marcos	184	0-0
15	East Stroudsburg	181	0-0
16	Kutztown	154	0-0
17	Cal State East Bay	133	0-0
18	Rogers State	124	0-0
19	Lenoir-Rhyne	103	0-0
20	Saint Leo	99	0-0
21	Wilmington	82	0-0
22	Indianapolis	64	0-0
23	Barry	55	0-0
24	Missouri Southern	41	0-0
25	Oklahoma Christian	22	0-0

Receiving Votes: Southern Arkansas (4), Hillsdale (3), Concordia (2), Wingate (1).
The 2026 NFCA/Go Rout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee. The committee consists of 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA's eight regions.


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