KANSAS CITY, MO. – For the first time in program history, the Eastern Oregon University Women's Softball team will begin the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, as announced by the NAIA on Wednesday morning.

The Mountaineers earned a total of 418 points, securing the second-highest ranking among teams in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Southern Oregon leads the conference at No. 1, while Oregon Tech is ranked 10th. College of Idaho and British Columbia also received votes in the rankings.

The NAIA Top 25 rankings are determined by a panel of head coaches from various conferences and independent groups. Coaches assign points based on their rankings, with 30 points given for a first-place vote, 29 for second, and so on. Each team's highest and lowest votes are excluded, and their score is adjusted by adding an extra point for every ballot they appear on. Teams with only one point are not considered in the rankings.

Eastern Oregon enters the 2025–26 season after a remarkable 2024–25 campaign, finishing with a 38-11 record. The team secured its second consecutive CCC Tournament Championship, earned a spot in the NAIA National Tournament, and advanced through the NAIA World Series Opening Round for the deepest postseason run in program history. The Mountaineers closed the 2025 season ranked 3rd nationally.

Eastern Oregon's 2025–26 season opener is set for Friday, February 6, against Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.

To read the full release visit: NAIA Preseason Rankings