Oregon Climbs to No. 9 in Final Ncaa Softball Rankings
Softball America’s final ncaa softball rankings of the regular season put Oregon at No. 9 on May 4, 2026, with Oklahoma and Nebraska still holding the top two spots. The poll arrived before conference tournament week, and the reshuffle at the top included Arkansas moving up, Tennessee returning to the Top 10, and Florida dropping out.
Oregon Pushes Into No. 9
Oregon’s rise came after two wins over UCLA, capped by a 13-11 victory on Saturday that extended the Ducks’ run to a 16th straight conference series. Softball America noted the jump directly: “Oregon climbs into the Top 10 after taking the series against UCLA in Westwood.”
That climb was built on offense and a late push. Stefini Ma'ake had one of the key swings in the series, while Amari Harper and Katie Flannery were part of the lineup that kept the pressure on UCLA. The 13-11 finish gave Oregon a clean entry into the Top 10 at No. 9.
Tennessee Rebounds Against Alabama
Tennessee moved back into the Top 10 after taking down Alabama and securing the series win over Missouri, a stretch powered by pitching from Karlyn Pickens and Sage Mardjetko. Pickens struck out 11 and allowed one run on three hits in five innings of relief against Alabama.
Mardjetko delivered the sharper line in the same series, throwing a one-hit complete-game shutout. Alabama was held scoreless for the first time all season in that game, a rare break in the Tide’s run production that helped Tennessee’s climb in the poll.
Those results also framed Tennessee’s postseason position. The rankings reward the rebound, but the team still has to carry that form into tournament play after the series work against Alabama and Missouri.
Arkansas Adds Road Mileage
Arkansas jumped after a 4-3 win over Texas on Saturday, and Saylor Timmerman drove that result with four no-hit innings of relief, seven strikeouts, and no earned runs. Arkansas also has now won 20 conference road series dating back to 2021, the most among SEC programs in that span.
The final poll gave a clearer read on which teams finished the regular season upward and which slipped at the end. Florida fell out after losing the series to Georgia, while Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oregon all gained ground before tournament week.
