TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following a 3-0 start to the season, Alabama softball secured a top-10 ranking in the national polls, placing ninth in both the USA Today/NFCA poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.

Alabama moved up two positions from its preseason ranking in the NFCA poll and one spot in the USA Softball poll.

The Crimson Tide opened its 2018 season last weekend with three shutout victories, defeating South Alabama, 1-0, Thursday in Mobile, Ala., before defeating Penn State, 10-0, and Lamar, 13-0, Friday at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. The latter game against the Cardinals was a five-inning no-hitter for junior Courtney Gettins in her Crimson Tide debut.

Twelve SEC teams are either ranked in the top 25 or are receiving votes. Ranked SEC teams include Florida (#2/2), Texas A&M (#6/8), LSU (#7/7), Alabama (#9/9), Tennessee (#10/10), Auburn (#13/13), Ole Miss (#15/18), Georgia (#17/17) and Kentucky (#25/25). Mississippi State, South Carolina and Arkansas are receiving votes outside the top 25 in at least one poll.

The Tide continues its 2018 season this weekend at the Black and Gold Invitational, hosted by Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. Alabama opens play against the host Golden Eagles Friday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. CT. The Tide continues play Saturday, Feb. 17 against No. 24/RV McNeese State (1 p.m. CT) and Mississippi Valley State (4 p.m. CT) before concluding weekend action with another ranked matchup against No. 11/12 Baylor Sunday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m. CT.

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.