The Alabama softball team will start the 2013 campaign just how they ended last year’s – as the number one team in the country. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association tabbed defending national champion Alabama No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Crimson Tide (60-8) received 25 of 31 possible first-place votes to lead the way in the top spot, while the remainder of the top five remained unchanged from last year’s final ranking. National runner-up Oklahoma earned five first-place tallies to sit at second place, California (58-7) was third after garnering a single first-place vote, Arizona State (53-11) ranked fourth, and Oregon (45-18) rounded out the top five squads.

Tennessee (52-14), Texas (47-13), Missouri (47-14), Georgia (45-17) and LSU (40-25) made up positions 6-10, respectively.

Syracuse (43-16) and Oregon State (36-23) were the only two teams to drop out of the poll from 2012 to 2013, but both squads received votes.

The Pacific-12 and Southeastern Conference led the way with seven selections each, while the Big 12 Conference boasted three teams in the ratings. Other leagues placing teams in the listing were the BIG EAST and ACC (two each) as well as the Big Ten, Colonial Athletic Association, Big West and Sun Belt (one each).