SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth College softball team jumped seven more spots to once again reach a new high-water mark in the NFCA NCAA Division III ratings this week. The Pirates are now ranked 9th, the highest the team has ever been rated. Last week's previous high rating was 16th.

Click here for the entire poll.

Whitworth appeared in the poll for the first time in school history last month, making the debut at #20 in the rankings. The Pirates are now 21-3 overall and 16-0 in the NWC, holding a one game lead over three-time defending champion Linfield.

Whitworth will take on Lewis & Clark (4-24 overall, 2-16 NWC) this weekend in a four-game NWC series. The Pioneers split a doubleheader with Willamette in their only games last week. Doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday will begin at Noon. Click here to listen to Sunday's contests.