SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth College softball team reached a new high-water mark in the NFCA NCAA Division III rankings this week. The Pirates are now ranked 16th, the highest the team has been rated.

Click here for the entire poll.

Whitworth appeared in the poll for the first time in school history three weeks ago, making the debut at #20 in the rankings. The Pirates are now 17-3 overall and 12-0 in the NWC, holding a one game lead over defending champion Linfield.

Whitworth will take on Puget Sound (16-8, 5-7 NWC) this weekend in a four-game NWC series. Friday's doubleheader begins at Noon, while Saturday's twin bill starts at 10:00 am. Click here for live stats of all of this weekend's contests.