SEC softball power rankings: Tennessee in control as regular season winds down

Time is running out for other teams to catch up to Tennessee softball, which is inching closer to repeating as the SEC regular-season champion.

The Lady Vols took down LSU in a top-10 matchup last weekend in Knoxville. Texas A&M is within striking distance, but the Aggies only have one SEC series left – and they have to play at Florida and hope Tennessee loses.

Here's how the conference stacks up in this week's SEC softball power rankings with only a couple weeks left in the regular season.

1. Tennessee

You might be able to beat the No. 3 Lady Vols once, but you won't beat them twice. Tennessee only dropped one game 1-0 in a pitching duel against No. 6 LSU, but it prevailed in the rubber match Sunday. The Lady Vols haven't dropped an SEC series yet and another trophy is within their grasp.

Last week: 1

Record: 34-8

2. Texas A&M

The Aggies completed the rare sweep in SEC play last weekend to stay within striking distance of Tennessee in first place in the conference. Even though it was against Ole Miss, a sweep is still a sweep and No. 10 Texas A&M couldn't afford to drop a game to the last-place Rebels.

Last week: 2

Record: 37-9

3. Arkansas

The first game of the series against No. 17 Alabama was a nine-inning battle that ended in a 1-0 win for the Razorbacks. They dropped the second game, but then dominated in the rubber match Sunday and run-ruled the Tide 8-0 in five innings. No. 15 Arkansas is peaking at the right time.

Last week: 3

Record: 32-12

4. Florida

The No. 12 Gators gave up six runs in each game against South Carolina, but they were able to outscore the Gamecocks twice to win the series. Florida's tendency to give up a lot of runs isn't a great sign for postseason hopes, but it makes for exciting games right now.

Last week: 4

Record: 37-10

5. Georgia

The No. 11 Bulldogs had some déjà vu last weekend. Every game against No. 14 Missouri was settled by a 4-2 score, and Georgia came out on top twice to win the series. We'll never know if it was because of the Bulldogs or because the Tigers are seemingly unable to win an SEC series on the road.

Last week: 9

Record: 36-11

6. LSU

Going 2-2 against Top-25 opponents – one of which was Tennessee – was a good week for LSU, especially to rebound from the series loss to Auburn. Unfortunately for the Tigers, who are 11-10 in SEC play, they finish conference play with a series against Arkansas, so they aren't finishing conference play much above .500 if they do.

Last week: 8

Record: 33-8

7. Alabama

Things fell apart for the Crimson Tide on Sunday. The first two games went shockingly well for Alabama, but it finished the weekend getting blown out by Arkansas. And now it has to face Tennessee, which has the regular-season championship on the line. I'm not all that hopeful for the Tide.

Last week: 7

Record: 30-10

8. Missouri

I sound like a broken record at this point, but Missouri is the one keeping up the bit, not me. The Tigers lost a road series yet again and have yet to win a series in SEC play away from home. And it's not that they're playing easier teams at home – Missouri just can't get over the hump on the road.

Last week: 5

Record: 35-13

9. Mississippi State

No. 18 Mississippi State took a break from SEC this week, and it didn't go well. The Bulldogs lost to South Alabama, though I won't give them too much grief since Arkansas and Alabama lost to it already this season.

Last week: 6

Record: 30-13

10. Kentucky

No. 23 Kentucky logged its third series win in the last month, which is a far cry from where the Wildcats started in SEC play. Kentucky's first two SEC series wins were at home, but this time it beat Auburn on the road.

Last week: 11

Record: 29-16

11. Auburn

Auburn returned to its regularly scheduled programming this week after a stunning upset of LSU last week. The Tigers lost the series at home to Kentucky, but at least they ended the weekend on a high note with their usual one win of the weekend.

Last week: 10

Record: 24-15-1

12. South Carolina

The good news: South Carolina scored six runs in every game last weekend. The bad news: The Gamecocks only outscored Florida once and lost the series. But for a team that was struggling offensively as of late, the 18 runs over the weekend are a step in the right direction.

Last week: 12

Record: 30-17

13. Ole Miss

The Rebels have hit the 20-loss mark on the season after Ole Miss got swept for the fourth time in SEC play in College Station. I just hope everyone has fun the rest of the season.

Last week: 13

Record: 25-22