LEBANON, Tenn. - - The Cumberland Phoenix have made their way into NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll as they are receiving votes as was announced by the league office this morning.

Oregon Tech remains No. 1 in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, collecting 11 first-place votes. Oklahoma City checks in at No. 2 with four first-place votes, while Madonna (Mich.) is ranked No. 3 with one first-place vote. Southeastern (Fla.) holds the No. 4 spot with two first-place votes, and Eastern Oregon rounds out the top five with one first-place vote.

Cumberland posted a 5-2 record last week, picking up two wins over Tennessee Wesleyan, two victories against then-No. 19 UT Southern, and one win over No. 11 Lindsey Wilson on Saturday.

Freshman right-hander Avery Rauscher turned in an outstanding week in the circle, going 3-1 in four starts. Her week included a complete-game shutout against Tennessee Wesleyan, a 3-2 win over No. 19 UT Southern, and a 2-1 victory against No. 11 Lindsey Wilson. She also took the loss in a 6-0 contest against the Blue Raiders.

Senior right-hander Madison Croxford also had a strong week for the Phoenix, posting a 2-1 record with wins over Tennessee Wesleyan and No. 19 UT Southern.

Rauscher has emerged as the leader of Cumberland's pitching staff this season, carrying a 2.00 ERA while leading the team with eight wins, 11 complete games, and 88 strikeouts. She has also held opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.

At the plate, Karley Daughrity, Abby Chappell, and Elly Castle continue to lead the Phoenix offense. Daughrity is batting .317 on the season, while Chappell follows at .277 and Castle is hitting .272.

Cumberland will look to build on its momentum this weekend as the Phoenix travel to Campbellsville, Ky., for a Mid-South Conference series against RV Campbellsville. The teams will open the series on Friday with a single game at 2:00 p.m. CT before wrapping up with a Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT and 2:00 p.m. CT.