For the second straight season, Atlantic Sun softball has improved its non-conference record and thanks to stellar play throughout the league, the conference owns the fourth-best non-conference win percentage among all Division I conferences.
ETSU has enjoyed its strongest non-conference season in four years in the conference, winning 15 of its 21 games, and the Lady Bucs are one of four Atlantic Sun member institutions to post a win percentage of at least .700. In addition, ETSU has earned wins over BCS conferences such as the ACC and Big East this season.
“Our conference continues to get stronger and stronger each year, and these numbers show how much competition there is in this league,” commented head ETSU softball coach Andrea Mangrum.
Florida Gulf Coast leads the conference with a 30-4 mark out of league play. The Eagles own three victories against ranked competition and have become a mainstay in the Ultimate College Softball poll, ranking inside the top 25 each of the last four weeks.
“It is a testament to a goal we set as a conference,” FGCU head coach Dave Deiros said. “We have challenged ourselves and improved by playing against the best in country.”
The two other schools to tie with FGCU for the 2008 regular-season title, USC Upstate and Lipscomb have carried its success into 2009.
The Spartans own a 14-4 mark outside of the league and the Bisons have won 19 of their 25 non-league games.
“Our conference can compete with just about anybody,” USC Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins said.
Defending A-Sun Conference Champion, Campbell, owns a 14-8 record, on the heels of posting a 33-12 non-conference mark.
Mercer, after a 3-5 start has won 18 of its last 23 games, putting together is best non-conference season in 20 seasons.
“It’s a tribute to our players and the coaches and how hard we all worked and recruit,” Mercer head coach Mike Raynor said. “It’s great to have our girls recognized.”
Eight of the A-Sun’s 11 schools own winning non-conference records and Jacksonville has split its 30 games. The two under .500, Belmont and Kennesaw State are only a combined six games under .500.
Only the SEC, the Pacific 10 and Big 12 have higher composite win percentages than the A-Sun’s .642. The ACC ranks just behind the A-Sun as the fifth conference to boast at least a .600 win percentage.

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