LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time in program history, the East Stroudsburg University softball team is nationally ranked by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA), closing out the historic campaign ranked at No. 24 in the final NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll of the 2021 season.

The Warriors (29-16), tied the school record for wins a season and set records for home wins (20) and conference wins (17). ESU closed the season out strong, rallying for three wins to escape the elimination bracket and finished the season as an Atlantic Region finalist. ESU's season ended with a 2-1 heartbreaking loss to now No. 8 West Chester.

Senior Marah Range was named ESU's first-ever PSAC East Pitcher of the Year during the campaign, boasting a 15-7 record with a 2.96 ERA. Along with conference pitcher of the year and conference first-team honors, Range was selected First Team All-Region by D2CCA and earned Second Team All-Region accolades from the NFCA.

Joining Range on all-region teams was freshman Reilly Vicendese, who put together an impressive debut season in the Poconos. Vicendese was named second-team all-region by both D2CCA and the NFCA after batting .380 with a freshman record 60 hits and 30 RBIs while committing just two errors at the hot corner.

As a team, ESU posted its best batting average since 1977 (.304) and set school records in  both stolen bases (132, 2nd in DII) and fielding percentage (.971).
The ESU softball team is the second team this spring to finish its season nationally ranked, joining the ESU lacrosse team, who finished its campaign ranked No. 4 in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll. 

The 2021 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through June 1. In 2021, universities that did not compete were not eligible for the poll.  

 To view the complete NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, visit the NFCA's website.