KANSAS CITY, Mo-- The University of Mobile is ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll, released by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tuesday.

The Lady Rams received 268 points in the poll after going 32-12 in 2009. Mobile finished the 2009 season ranked No. 17, but missed the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1994.

Defending national champion California Baptist is ranked No. 1 in the poll with 653 points, while Dickinson State University is 2nd with 629 points. Fellow Gulf Coast Athletic Conference member William Carey University is 6th, while Belhaven University is receiving votes.

Mobile opens the 2010 season Feb. 13 at Thomas University in a 3 pm double header. The Lady Rams' first home contest will be March 4 against Notre Dame College at noon.

During the season, Mobile will face seven of the preseason Top 25 teams: No. 6 William Carey University, No. 8 Martin Methodist College, No. 12 Shorter College, No. 13 University of Houston-Victoria, No. 16 Lee University, No. 19 Notre Dame College and No. 24 Campbellsville University.