Top 25 Tracker (April 24)
SEE ALSO: Top 25
Top 25 Tracker, powered by Louisville Slugger, recaps last week’s action and looks ahead to this week.
1. Oregon State
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 32-3, 16-2 in Pac-12 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-0
The Beavers have yet to lose a weekend series this season, but UCLA came as close as anyone has come to beating them. After a stellar performance from Oregon State ace Luke Heimlich, the Bruins rallied for two runs in the ninth of Friday’s opener to send the game into extras—where the Beavers won. Then, the Bruins won the Saturday game 7-1 and led late in Sunday’s game before Oregon State scored two runs in the final two innings.
Results:
April 21-23: @ UCLA: W 4-2 (10), L 7-1, W 2-1
Upcoming:
April 25: Oregon
April 28-30: Southern California
2. Louisville
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 33-6, 17-4 in ACC (6-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-0
Ace Brendan McKay proved vulnerable for the first time this season as Duke put up five runs against him and won the series opener. But Louisville came back with a flourish the next two days of the series and ended on a strong note with seven scoreless innings from freshman Nick Bennett and a 10-run explosion.
Results:
April 18: @ (14) Kentucky: L 11-7
April 21-23: Duke: L 5-3, W 7-5, W 10-0
Upcoming:
April 25: @ Eastern Kentucky
April 26: Northern Kentucky @ Louisville Slugger Field
April 28-30: Toledo
3. North Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 31-9, 16-5 in ACC (7-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-1
The Tar Heels lost a midweek tilt to Liberty—coached by former UNC assistant Scott Jackson. But the Tar Heels quickly regrouped to take a road series at Pittsburgh. Both righthanders J.B. Bukauskas and Luca Dalatri provided quality innings on the mound, as they have all season. UNC couldn’t seal the sweep on Sunday but nearly came back in a four-run ninth.
Results:
April 18: Liberty: L 5-2
April 21-23: @ Pittsburgh: W 5-2, W 3-1, L 11-9
Upcoming:
April 25: Elon
April 26: Campbell
April 28-30: (6) Clemson
4. Texas Christian
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 30-8, 11-4 in Big 12 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
The Horned Frogs rebounded from a series loss at West Virginia and took care of business against Baylor to pad their first-place lead in the Big 12 Conference. Both lefthander Nick Lodolo and righthander Brian Howard provided strong outings on Friday and Sunday, respectively, to lead the Frogs past the Bears. However, TCU’s two-game lead over Texas Tech will be put to the test when the Frogs travel to Lubbock this weekend.
Results:
April 21-23: Baylor: W 9-4, L 16-5, W 8-5
Upcoming:
April 25: Stephen F. Austin
April 28-30: @ (7) Texas Tech
5. Auburn
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 30-12, 12-6 in SEC (7-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-1
Auburn has passed nearly every test and cleared every hurdle it has faced this spring, with the Tigers’ lone series loss coming at Texas A&M. The Tigers add a series win against Arkansas to an impressive resume that already includes a sweep of Florida and a series win against South Carolina. Auburn’s next challenge? A trip to Mississippi State to battle for first place in the Southeastern Conference West Division.
Results:
April 18: @ Kennesaw State: W 15-7
April 21-23: (16) Arkansas: W 15-2, L 7-3, W 11-6
Upcoming:
April 25: Troy
April 28-30: @ Mississippi State
6. Clemson
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 33-8, 16-5 in ACC (6-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-2
The Tigers lost just their second weekend series of the year—their first since opening weekend—at Florida State, but they didn’t waste much time regrouping. The Tigers handled a hot Wake Forest team at home, highlighted by a 12-strikeout shutout from Saturday starter Alex Eubanks. It’ll get tougher for the Tigers this weekend as they’ll take on No. 3 North Carolina on the road.
Results:
April 17: @ Florida State: L 7-6
April 19: Georgia: W 9-7
April 21-23: (17) Wake Forest: W 8-7, W 11-0, L 8-3
Upcoming:
April 25: College of Charleston
April 28-30: @ (3) North Carolina
7. Texas Tech
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 33-10, 9-6 in Big 12 (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Red Raiders had a difficult time containing the Cowboys’ bats in Friday night’s shootout, specifically Garrett McCain, who drove in five runs. Texas Tech evened the series the next day by rocking Oklahoma State senior righthander Tyler Buffett, but the Red Raiders couldn’t finish off the series win in Sunday’s 11-inning epic. With the series loss, Texas Tech fell to two games behind first-place Texas Christian in the Big 12 standings.
Results:
April 18: New Mexico State @ Midland, Texas: W 6-4
April 21-23: Oklahoma State: L 12-10, W 8-2, L 3-1 (11)
Upcoming:
April 25-26: @ New Mexico
April 28-30: (4) Texas Christian
8. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 28-14, 13-5 in SEC (8-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
After beginning SEC play with a sweep at the hands of Arkansas, the Bulldogs have steadily surged up the conference standings, winning five straight series to lead not only the SEC West but the entire conference with a 13-5 SEC record. The Bulldogs continued to roll this weekend against Alabama, but their seat on the SEC throne will be threatened by visiting Auburn this weekend.
Results:
April 18: @ South Alabama: L 5-2
April 20-22: Alabama: W 6-5, W 4-3, W 13-12 (13)
Upcoming:
April 25: Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.
April 28-30: (5) Auburn
9. Long Beach State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-13, 10-2 in Big West (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
With the exception of Oregon State, no team on the west coast has been as hot as Long Beach State, which holds sole possession of first place in the Big West. In the last month, the Dirtbags have gone 15-4, adding a sweep this weekend at UC Irvine. Ace Darren McCaughan threw his second consecutive complete game in Friday’s shutout, and the pitching staff as a whole has allowed five runs or more just three times in the last 19 games.
Results:
April 18: @ UCLA: L 2-1
April 21-23: @ UC Irvine: W 4-0, W 8-2, W 5-2
Upcoming:
April 25: UCLA
April 28-30: @ UC Davis
10. Kentucky
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 28-13, 12-6 in SEC (12-8 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
The Wildcats have shown no signs of slowing down throughout their impressive run through SEC play. Kentucky pounded visiting LSU for 25 runs in three games, while also snapping a six-game losing streak to rival Louisville in an 11-7 midweek win. The Wildcats’ lone blemish in SEC play was a series loss to Mississippi State. Otherwise, Kentucky has had a flawless run, and the first-place SEC East team will look to continue that run at South Carolina.
Results:
April 18: (2) Louisville: W 11-7
April 21-23: (9) Louisiana State: W 12-5, L 4-3, W 10-2
Upcoming:
April 26: Xavier
April 28-30: South Carolina
11. Florida
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-13, 10-8 in SEC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-2
Battling through a much-maligned junior campaign, J.J. Schwarz delivered when it counted in the finale against South Carolina, drilling an eighth-inning grand slam to shock the Gamecocks and take a series win from them. All three games were hard-fought, starting with an Alex Faedo-Clarke Schmidt pitcher’s duel on Friday.
Results:
April 18: North Florida: W 2-1
April 20-22: South Carolina: W 1-0, L 4-2, W 7-5
Upcoming:
April 28-30: @ Georgia
12. Virginia
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 33-10, 12-9 in ACC (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
The Cavaliers won their third straight ACC series, taking care of Notre Dame handily, while also winning a pair of midweek games. The addition of freshman righthander Noah Murdock to the weekend rotation continues to be a fruitful one as Murdock threw another scoreless outing in Sunday’s finale. The Cavaliers sit in second place in the Coastal Division behind North Carolina, and their schedule picks up with a road trip to Florida State looming.
Results:
April 18: Longwood: W 13-2
April 19: James Madison: W 7-2
April 21-23: Notre Dame: W 14-4, L 8-2, W 9-0
Upcoming:
April 25: Radford
April 28-30: @ Florida State
13. Arizona
Last Week: 0-3
Overall: 26-12, 9-9 in Pac-12 (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Utah apparently has Arizona’s number, as the Utes swept the Wildcats for the second straight year—this time on the road. The sweep was the second Arizona has suffered this season; the first was a more understandable sweep at the hands of No. 1 Oregon State in Corvallis. The Wildcats didn’t have ace J.C. Cloney this weekend, and strangely, one of the nation’s top offenses was held mostly in check. Arizona will look to get back on track at Stanford.
Results:
April 20-22: Utah: L 12-5, L 7-3, L 4-2
Upcoming:
April 25: New Mexico State
April 28-30: @ (18) Stanford
14. Cal State Fullerton
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 24-14, 6-3 in Big West (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2-1
Typically stingy on the mound, the Titans gave up a combined 36 runs in four games and simply couldn’t slow down the Cal Poly offense on the road. Even ace Connor Seabold allowed four runs in the Friday opener. The Titans have slipped in the Big West standings and now sit at 2.5 games behind first-place Long Beach State.
Results:
April 18: San Diego @ Lake Elsinore, Calif.: L 11-6
April 21-23: @ Cal Poly: W 7-4, L 13-6, L 8-4
Upcoming:
April 28-30: UC Irvine
15. Louisiana State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-14, 10-8 in SEC (4-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Facing SEC East leader Kentucky on the road, the Tigers were blown out in two of the three games. A late rally in the second game of the series allowed LSU to avoid a sweep, but with the series loss, the Tigers slid to fourth place in the SEC West—three games back of first-place Mississippi State.
Results:
April 18: Lamar: W 10-4
April 21-23: @ (14) Kentucky: L 12-5, W 4-3, L 10-2
Upcoming:
April 25: @ Tulane
April 27-29: @ Alabama
16. Arkansas
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 32-10, 12-6 in SEC (4-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Auburn outslugged Arkansas in a battle for position in the SEC West standings, outscoring the Razorbacks 29-15 on the Plains. The series loss dropped Arkansas into second place tie in the division with Auburn, a game behind Mississippi State. The Razorbacks will look to get back on track this week, first against Kansas State in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City and then against Mississippi back in the friendly confines of Baum Stadium, where they are 24-3 this spring.
Results:
April 18-19: Memphis: W 16-7, W 2-0
April 21-23: @ (10) Auburn: L 15-2, W 7-3, L 11-6
Upcoming:
April 25: vs. Kansas State @ Kansas City
April 27-29: Mississippi
17. Wake Forest
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 29-13, 13-8 in ACC (5-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Wake Forest’s typically potent offense sputtered last week, as the Demon Deacons were held to just one run in a midweek loss against Charlotte and were shutout in the middle game of their series at Clemson. The result was a 1-3 week, Wake Forest’s first losing week since opening weekend. The Demon Deacons have a pair of midweek games this week before taking the weekend off for finals.
Results:
April 18: Charlotte: L 6-1
April 21-23: @ (5) Clemson: L 8-7, L 11-0, W 8-3
Upcoming:
April 25: @ UNC Greensboro
April 26: @ Davidson
18. Stanford
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 23-12, 8-7 in Pac-12 (4-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3-1
Stanford bounced back from a home series loss to UCLA with a perfect week, starting with a win against archrival California and finishing with a road sweep of Oregon. It was the Cardinal’s first road conference sweep since 2014, and they became the first Pac-12 team to sweep the Ducks at PK Park since 2011. Stanford faces another tough test this weekend, as No. 13 Arizona visits the Farm.
Results:
April 18: California: W 6-4
April 21-23: @ (25) Oregon: W 4-3, W 8-5, W 10-4
Upcoming:
April 25: Santa Clara
April 27-29: (13) Arizona
19. Texas A&M
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 28-13, 10-8 in SEC (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Texas A&M beat Tennessee twice to win its fourth straight series and improve to 10-3 in SEC play after losing their first five conference games. The Aggies’ pitching staff excelled last week, holding their opponents to 10 runs in four games. Texas A&M will look to get its offense going this week after scoring just 10 runs of its own last week.
Results:
April 18: Texas-Arlington: L 3-2
April 21-23: Tennessee: W 2-1, W 3-1, L 5-3 (13)
Upcoming:
April 25: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
April 28-30: @ Missouri
20. Houston
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-12, 8-4 in AAC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2-1
Houston became the first team this season to win a series against Tulane in American Athletic Conference play, and moved into a first-place tie with the Green Wave as a result. Catcher Connor Wong powered the offense with three home runs in Sunday’s series-clinching victory. Houston faces a stern test this weekend, when it travels to South Florida, which is just a game out of first in the AAC and is 26-4 at home this season.
Results:
April 18: vs. Sam Houston State @ Sugar Land, Texas: L 5-4
April 21-23: Tulane: L 7-1, W 8-7, W 12-2 (7)
Upcoming:
April 25: Sam Houston State
April 28-30: @ South Florida
21. Maryland
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 28-11, 12-3 in Big Ten (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
With a sweep of Michigan State, its second straight sweep in Big Ten Conference play, Maryland opened a 2.5 game lead in the conference standings. The Terrapins have won seven straight games and are now 18-1 at home. Maryland will look to continue that hot streak on the road this week, as it travels Tuesday to James Madison and then visits Indiana on the weekend.
Results:
April 19: @ William & Mary: W 6-0
April 21-23: Michigan State: W 12-2, W 2-1, W 6-2
Upcoming:
April 25: @ James Madison
April 28-30: @ Indiana
22. St. John’s
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 29-5, 4-2 in Big East (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
St. John’s offense continued to roll, piling up 37 runs in three nonconference wins. The Red Storm ranks 12th in the country in scoring, averaging 7.85 runs per game. Its lineup will face a stiffer test this weekend when it takes on Seton Hall in Big East Conference action. The Pirates rank third in the conference with a 3.81 team ERA.
Results:
April 18: New York Tech: W 13-8
April 22-23: Fairleigh-Dickinson: W 9-0, W 15-8
Upcoming:
April 26: Princeton
April 28-30: Seton Hall
23. Michigan
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 31-9, 7-5 in Big Ten (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2-1
Following a sweep of then-No. 11 Oklahoma, Michigan returned to Big Ten Conference action against Indiana. The Wolverines lost the first two games of the series–one a pitcher’s duel, one a slugfest—before regrouping to win the series finale. The series loss, just their second of the season, leaves the Wolverines in fifth place in the Big Ten. After an 18-game homestand, Michigan will look to get back on track this weekend at Rutgers..
Results:
April 18: Michigan State: W 12-4
April 21-23: Indiana: L 1-0, L 12-9, W 12-5
Upcoming:
April 28-30: @ Rutgers
24. Mercer
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 35-7, 14-1 in SoCon (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 10-0
Mercer was tested at Citadel, twice needing extra innings to knock off the Bulldogs, but came away with its fourth straight sweep in Southern Conference play. The Bears lead the nation with 35 wins and have not lost a weekend series all season. Mercer will look to keep that streak going at home this weekend against UNC Greensboro.
Results:
April 18: @ Georgia Tech: L 8-5
April 21-23: @ Citadel: W 6-5 (10), W 5-3, W 2-1 (13)
Upcoming:
April 25-26: vs./@ Georgia Southern
April 28-30: UNC Greensboro
25. West Virginia
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-15, 9-6 in Big 12 (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-4
After its series win against Texas Christian that catapulted it into the Top 25 for the first time ever, West Virginia was unable to capitalize on its momentum. The Mountaineers lost a series at Kansas State, their first Big 12 series loss of the season. After a game Tuesday at Virginia Tech, West Virginia will return home to take on Oklahoma in Monongalia County Ballpark, where it is 8-3 this season.
Results:
April 18: @ Marshall: W 8-4
April 21-23: @ Kansas State: W 9-7, L 8-4, L 11-4
Upcoming:
April 25: @ Virginia Tech
April 28-30: Oklahoma
DROPPED OUT
Oklahoma
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 28-15, 6-6 in Big 12 (6-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
After starting the season 26-6, Oklahoma has fallen into a slump as injuries have mounted. The Sooners snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory Sunday in the series finale against Kansas, but have lost nine of their last 11 games. Oklahoma faces another tough conference test this weekend when it travels to West Virginia.
Results:
April 18: @ Dallas Baptist: L 16-10
April 21-23: Kansas: L 15-10, L 5-2, W 7-6
Upcoming:
April 25: Texas-Arlington
April 28-30: @ (25) West Virginia
Southern Miss
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 30-12, 13-5 in CUSA (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
After a win Friday night, Southern Miss lost back-to-back games to Old Dominion to lose a home Conference USA series for the first time since 2015. The Golden Eagles remain in first place in the conference standings, but a trio ODU, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic are just a game off the pace. Southern Miss will look to get back on track as it hits the road for four games this week.
Results:
April 18: vs. Nicholls State @ Biloxi, Miss.: W 16-8
April 19: @ Tulane: L 10-8
April 21-23: Old Dominion: W 10-2, L 13-11, L 9-2
Upcoming:
April 25: @ South Alabama
April 28-30: @ Middle Tennessee State
Oregon
Last Week: 0-3
Overall: 23-13, 6-9 in Pac-12 (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3-1
Oregon was swept at home by Stanford, extending its losing streak to five games and dropping it to eighth in the Pac-12 standings. The Ducks’ typically stout pitching staff gave up 22 runs to the Cardinal. Oregon will look to snap out of its skid this week as it travels to top-ranked Oregon State for a nonconference game Tuesday, followed by a home series against Arizona State
Results:
April 21-23: Stanford: L 4-3, L 8-5, L 10-4
Upcoming:
April 25: @ (1) Oregon State
April 28-30: Arizona State
Comments are closed.