Angie Lindeman is a four-year starter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team is ranked No. 5 nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s NCAA Division II preseason poll.

Florida Southern is the top-ranked team in the poll, followed by Kennesaw (Ga) State, Shippensburg, St. Cloud State and NKU. The Norse, who posted a 54-7 overall record last season, return all nine starters and their entire pitching staff in 2005.

NKU will feature junior pitcher Krystal Lewallen, who finished No. 1 nationally in earned run average last season with a 0.27 ERA. Lewallen also won a school-record 31 games and led NKU to the NCAA Division II World Series for the first time in the program’s history.

NKU also returns senior first baseman Angie Lindeman, senior center fielder Stephanie Leimbach, senior pitcher Emily Breitholle and junior second baseman Ricki Rothbauer.

Leimbach led NKU in hitting last season with a .375 batting average. She also had an NKU single-season record 75 hits. Lindeman knocked in a Norse single-season record 50 runs last spring, while Breitholle posted a 16-2 record with a 1.10 ERA.

Rothbauer batted .343 with a team-leading eight triples last season. She also scored a school-record 46 runs.

NKU, which is the preseason favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference, will open the season Feb. 11 against Southern Arkansas in a two-day tournament at Florence, Ala.

NKU will also meet Delta State on Feb. 11. The Norse will play their home opener on March 19 against Kentucky Wesleyan.

NFCA NCAA Division II national preseason poll

1. Florida Southern (5) 47-11 196
2. Kennesaw State (2) 64-4 187
3. Shippensburg (1) 48-6 172
4. St. Cloud State 42-15 168
5. Northern Kentucky 54-7 163
6. Alabama-Huntsville 48-11 153
7. Colorado-Colorado Springs 39-13 152
8. Humboldt State 53-15 148
9. (tie) Caldwell 45-7 129
North Florida 46-13 129
11. St. Mary’s (Texas) 46-12 123
12. Bloomsburg 28-16-1 102
13. San Francisco State 41-25 97
14. Grand Valley State 36-8 94
15. Angelo State 47-11 93
16. Missouri Western 31-19 92
17. Rollins 42-16 72
18. LeMoyne 34-10 61
19. Emporia State 43-18 44
20. Lewis 45-13 42
21. Presbyterian 48-13 37
22. West Florida 36-20 27
23. Cal State Dominguez Hills 33-22-1 24
24. Texas Woman’s 40-15 22
25. Lock Haven 27-17 21