SEC softball power rankings: Tennessee remains consistent, Florida falls after series loss

Tennessee softball has been the only consistent thing in the SEC since conference play started.

The Lady Vols have steadily created separation in the SEC standings, and they sit in first place with an .800 winning percentage. Texas A&M and Florida – which end the regular season facing off – are tied for second. Both have a .667 winning percentage in conference, which shows just how impressive Tennessee has been this season.

Time is running out for other teams to catch up. Here's how everyone else stacks up in this week's SEC softball power rankings.

1. Tennessee

The No. 4 Lady Vols showed some resiliency last weekend after starting off with a run-rule loss to No. 17 Mississippi State. Tennessee rebounded with two strong wins to win the series, which bodes well for how deep the Lady Vols can make it in the postseason.

Last week: 1

Record: 32-7

2. Texas A&M

The No. 11 Aggies earned the most ridiculous win of the weekend after beating No. 14 Alabama 17-6 on Sunday. Texas A&M scored seven runs during the seventh inning of the beatdown in Tuscaloosa. At this point, it's hard to tell if the Aggies are just that good or if Alabama is just overrated.

Last week: 6

Record: 33-9

3. Arkansas

The No. 16 Razorbacks haven't lost a road series in conference play. They capped off their latest with a 3-0 shutout win against then-No. 23 South Carolina in Columbia. Asking for a friend: What does Arkansas have to do to crack the top 15 in the national rankings?

Last week: 3

Record: 30-11

4. Florida

It wasn't a great weekend for Florida's pitching. In Game 1, the Gators only gave up three hits, but then put nine more runners on between walks and getting hit by pitches. Then they gave up 10 hits and put six more runners on in the second loss to Missouri. But Keagan Rothrock ended the series on a high note, going seven innings with only one hit in No. 10 Florida's lone win.

Last week: 2

Record: 35-9

5. Missouri

The home winning streak continues for the No. 13 Tigers, who handed the Gators their first SEC series loss. Missouri is back on the road this weekend, though, so it's time to see if it can break the streak of losing all its conference series on the road.

Last week: 9

Record: 33-11

6. Mississippi State

The No. 17 Bulldogs lost the series against Tennessee, but they got in a run-rule win first. Mississippi State didn't even hit a home run in the 9-1 win, but it got runners on base and capitalized on fly outs and errors from Tennessee.

Last week: 7

Record: 30-12

7. Alabama

The No. 14 Crimson Tide got outscored 26-10 in two losses at home to Texas A&M. Alabama is 7-8 in SEC play, and it's on pace to finish under .500 in conference games. The Tide did go 14-10 last season and still made a run to the Women's College World Series, though, so not all hope is lost.

Last week: 8

Record: 30-10

8. LSU

No. 7 LSU lost the series in Baton Rouge to Auburn off a two-RBI single and some nifty base running to steal home to make the final score 3-1. LSU is 0-3 in rubber matches in SEC play. To make matters worse, two of those series losses were to teams sitting at the bottom of the conference standings.

Last week: 5

Record: 34-8

9. Georgia

Losing to Tennessee and Arkansas was understandable. But dropping the series against Kentucky, which had three SEC wins before last weekend, is a poor showing from No. 9 Georgia. And the Bulldogs' schedule doesn't get any easier to end the regular season.

Last week: 4

Record: 33-10

10. Auburn

Auburn joined Kentucky in the underdogs club last weekend with an upset over No. 7 LSU. The Tigers won it on the road, too, reminding every team there are no off nights in SEC play.

Last week: 12

Record: 23-13-1

11. Kentucky

The Wildcats got themselves back in the rankings this week with their upset over Georgia. No. 24 Kentucky won the rubber match decisively Sunday, sending the Bulldogs home with two more losses.

Last week: 11

Record: 26-15

12. South Carolina

The Gamecocks got shut out only once this week, so I guess that's an improvement. But South Carolina lost yet another home series and got shut out when it mattered in the rubber match Sunday against Arkansas.

Last week: 10

Record: 29-15

13. Ole Miss

It has been a long week for Ole Miss, from losing the first game of a series with Western Kentucky to a double-header with Louisiana Tech that went late into Tuesday night. The Rebels pulled out the 6-5 win in 13 innings over the Techsters, so at least the late night was worth it.

Last week: 13

Record: 24-19