Top 25 Tracker (April 17)
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: 30-2, 14-1 in Pac-12 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-0
It turns out Oregon State is beatable—barely. The Beavers lost for just the second time this season in Thursday night’s matchup at Washington in a slim one-run game, snapping a 23-game winning streak. The Beavers quickly picked themselves back, though, winning the next two at Washington and riding strong pitching performances from starters Bryce Fehmel and Jake Thompson.
Results:
April 13-15: @ Washington: L 3-2, W 5-2, W 3-0
Upcoming:
April 21-23: @ UCLA
2. Louisville
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 31-4, 15-3 (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-0
Brendan McKay and the Cardinals continued their dominant stretch, going 4-0 on the week and winning their eighth straight series. McKay homered twice during the week, going 7-for-13 overall and driving in six. He also allowed just one hit and struck out eight in eight innings in the series opener at Georgia Tech.
Results:
April 11: Purdue: W 13-2
April 13-15: @ Georgia Tech: W 3-0, W 10-1, W 5-4
Upcoming:
April 18: @ (14) Kentucky
April 21-23: Duke
3. North Carolina
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 29-7, 14-4 in ACC (7-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
The Tar Heels opened their week in impressive fashion by throttling South Carolina, 20-5, in a neutral-site game at Charlotte. UNC then carried that momentum into a weekend series with rival North Carolina State, taking two of three from the Wolfpack thanks to excellent pitching from J.B. Bukauskas and Luca Dalatri and the offensive contributions of infielders Logan Warmoth and Kyle Datres.
Results:
April 11: (17) South Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.: W 20-5
April 14-16: North Carolina State: W 7-2, W 7-1, L 4-2
Upcoming:
April 18: Liberty
April 21-23: @ Pittsburgh
4. Texas Tech
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 31-8, 8-4 in Big 12 (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
The Red Raiders have rebounded nicely from a series loss against Oklahoma, winning consecutive Big 12 series against Baylor and Kansas State, respectively. The weekend began inauspiciously with a loss to the Wildcats, but the Raiders came back to win the next day with homers from Cody Farhat and Michael Davis before exploding for 12 runs in the series finale.
Results:
April 11: New Mexico: W 12-4
April 13-15: @ Kansas State: L 5-3, W 7-4, W 12-8
Upcoming:
April 18: New Mexico State @ Midland, Texas
April 21-23: Oklahoma State
5. Clemson
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 30-6, 14-3 in ACC (4-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Clemson’s week is incomplete, as the Tigers will play a Monday night rubber match against Florida State. But the Tigers did show their offensive capabilities in a rematch of last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title game. Clemson scored 12 runs on 15 hits, including a home run from Seth Beer, to beat FSU in the opener before dropping Game Two.
Results:
April 11: Charleston Southern: W 6-5 (11)
April 15-16: @ Florida State: W 12-10, L 7-3
Upcoming:
April 17: @ Florida State
April 19: Georgia
April 21-23: (17) Wake Forest
6. Arizona
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 26-9, 9-6 in Pac-12 (3-6 vs. Top 25)
The Wildcats couldn’t solve Oregon ace David Peterson in Thursday’s opener against the Ducks, but from there Arizona quickly got back to its winning ways. Arizona, the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, unloaded on Oregon in the finale, including a homer and three hits from freshman Nick Quintana.
Weekend Series: 7-1
Results:
April 11: @ Grand Canyon: W 7-3
April 13-15: (22) Oregon: L 8-4, W 5-4, W 18-4
Upcoming:
April 20-22: Utah
7. Texas Christian
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 28-7, 9-3 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
The Horned Frogs ran into a hot Mountaineers team at West Virginia and saw their 13-game winning streak come to an end. TCU struggled on the mound in the series, with Friday starter Jared Janczak and Saturday starter Nick Lodolo delivering subpar outings. Even still, TCU nearly won the series, rallying for three runs in the ninth inning Friday and leading late Sunday before West Virginia rallied for a walk-off win. One highlight of the weekend: junior catcher Evan Skoug homered three times.
Weekend Series: 6-2
Results:
April 11: @ Dallas Baptist: W 9-3
April 14-16: @ West Virginia: L 5-4, W 8-6, L 5-4
Upcoming:
April 21-23: Baylor
8. Cal State Fullerton
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 23-11, 5-1 in Big West (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1-1
The Titans and Trojans engaged in an uncharacteristic offensive shootout in the Thursday opener, but Cal State Fullerton quickly got back on track the next two games, as Connor Seabold and John Gavin each delivered on the mound. The Titans return to Big West Conference action this weekend at Cal Poly.
Results:
April 13-15: @/vs. Southern California: L 13-9, W 13-5, W 2-1
Upcoming:
April 18: San Diego @ Lake Elsinore, Calif.
April 21-23: @ Cal Poly
9. Louisiana State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-12, 9-6 in SEC (3-5 vs. Top 25)
The Tigers rolled past visiting Ole Miss this weekend. Greg Deichmann hit a grand slam in Thursday’s opener in support of a dominant Alex Lange, then homered again in Saturday’s win—his 12th homer of the year—in support of Eric Walker.
Weekend Series: 5-2
Results:
April 11: Louisiana-Lafayette @ Metairie, La.: W 3-2
April 13-15: Mississippi: W 15-2, L 4-1, W 3-2
Upcoming:
April 18: Lamar
April 21-23: @ (14) Kentucky
10. Auburn
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-11, 10-5 in SEC (5-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
The Tigers responded nicely from their first series loss of the season, taking two of three against the Vols at Tennessee. Righthander Casey Mize threw six scoreless innings in the opener, while freshman Davis Daniel threw eight scoreless in the rubber game to seal the series win.
Results:
April 11: @ Samford: W 16-15
April 13-15: @ Tennessee: W 3-2, L 5-4, W 8-1
Upcoming:
April 18: @ Kennesaw State
April 21-23: (16) Arkansas
11. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-13, 10-5 in SEC (8-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
The Brent Rooker Show continued as he homered for the 16th time this season in Friday’s opener at South Carolina. Rooker led the Bulldogs to their fourth straight SEC series win, as the Mississippi State has caught fire under first-year head coach Andy Cannizaro.
Results:
April 11: Mississippi Valley State: W 5-0
April 14-16: @ (17) South Carolina: W 7-4, W 5-4, L 6-1
Upcoming:
April 18: @ South Alabama
April 20-22: Alabama
12. Long Beach State
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 22-12, 7-2 in Big West (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Dirtbags won eight games in a row before Cal State Northridge won Saturday to avoid a sweep. The Dirtbags have steadily surged up the RPI and sit at No. 13 on WarrenNolan.com. Ace Darren McCaughan threw a complete game in Thursday’s win, and John Sheaks added seven scoreless the next day.
Results:
April 13-15: Cal State Northridge: W 6-2, W 4-0, L 8-5
Upcoming:
April 18: @ UCLA
April 21-23: @ UC Irvine
13. Virginia
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 29-9, 10-8 in ACC (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-3
The Cavaliers won their second straight ACC series, pounding 17 hits in the opener at Virginia Tech, and rallying late to win Friday’s extra-inning affair. Freshman righthander Noah Murdock continued to pitch well after moving to the rotation, throwing seven scoreless on Friday.
Results:
April 11: Virginia Commonwealth: W 9-4
April 13-15: @ Virginia Tech: W 10-9, W 3-2 (10), L 7-5
Upcoming:
April 18: Longwood
April 19: James Madison
April 21-23: Notre Dame
14. Kentucky
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-12, 10-5 in SEC (9-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Wildcats maintained their hold on the SEC East lead, winning a hard-fought series at Missouri. Kentucky has lost just one SEC series—last weekend against Mississippi State–and has surged to No. 7 in the RPI. The Wildcats have a difficult week ahead, however, hosting both Louisville and Louisiana State.
Results:
April 12: Texas-Martin: W 8-0
April 14-16: @ Missouri: W 5-2, L 9-8, W 6-1
Upcoming:
April 18: (2) Louisville
April 21-23: (9) Louisiana State
15. Florida
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 24-12, 8-7 in SEC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
The Gators’ offense broke out in a big way last week. Florida scored 40 runs in three wins against Florida State and Vanderbilt. It also was shutout once at Vanderbilt, as Preseason All-American Kyle Wright delivered his best start of the year. The Gators’ offense faces another tough test this weekend against South Carolina.
Results:
April 11: @ Florida State: W 10-7
April 13-15: @ Vanderbilt: W 10-6, L 2-0, W 20-8
Upcoming:
April 18: North Florida
April 20-22: South Carolina
16. Arkansas
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 29-8, 11-4 in SEC (3-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Arkansas bounced back from last week’s heartbreaking series loss against Louisiana State with a perfect week. The Razorbacks scored 42 runs in four games, continuing their torrid form this season. Arkansas now sits in first place in the SEC West going into a key divisional showdown at Auburn, which is a game behind and tied for second.
Results:
April 11: @ Missouri State: W 12-4
April 13-15: Georgia: W 14-4, W 5-4 (10), W 11-3
Upcoming:
April 18-19: Memphis
April 21-23: @ (10) Auburn
17. Wake Forest
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 28-10, 12-6 in ACC (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
After its first series loss of the season last week at Louisville, Wake Forest bounced back for a perfect week. The Demon Deacons’ offense continued to roll, scoring 54 runs in five games. Wake will head back out on the road this weekend to take on Clemson in another stiff test in the ACC Atlantic Division.
Results:
April 11: Coastal Carolina: W 19-9
April 12: @ Elon: W 13-1 (7)
April 14-16: Notre Dame: W 4-3, W 13-7, W 5-1
Upcoming:
April 18: Charlotte
April 21-23: @ (5) Clemson
18. Michigan
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 29-7, 6-3 in Big Ten (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1-1
Michigan continued its impressive run with a sweep against Oklahoma to finish a perfect week. The Wolverines have won 13 of their last 14 games and have won three straight series. Michigan has another big week ahead with a nonconference game against Michigan State, followed by a key Big Ten Conference series against Indiana.
Results:
April 11: Eastern Michigan: W 2-1 (13)
April 13-15: (11) Oklahoma: W 5-2, W 14-4, W 6-2
Upcoming:
April 18: Michigan State
April 21-23: Indiana
19. Oklahoma
Last Week: 0-4
Overall: 27-12, 5-4 in Big 12 (6-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
A trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., did not treat the Sooners kindly. Oklahoma dropped its second straight series after dropping two of three at Texas the weekend before, and the Sooners went 0-4 overall during the week after a midweek loss at Oral Roberts. The Sooners are still in the thick of the Big 12 race but will need to rebound as they return to conference play this week against Kansas.
Results:
April 11: @ Oral Roberts: L 3-2
April 13-15: @ (23) Michigan: L 5-2, L 14-4, L 6-2
Upcoming:
April 21-23: Kansas
20. Southern Miss
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 28-9, 12-3 in CUSA (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Southern Miss used a strong offensive effort to win its series at Rice for the second ever and the first time since 2008. The Golden Eagles’ lineup has been a strength all season, and they are averaging nearly eight runs per game and are slugging .489 as a team. Southern Miss continues to lead Conference USA, and will host third-place Old Dominion this weekend.
Results:
April 11: Mississippi: L 6-2
April 14-16: @ Rice: W 15-4, L 11-4, W 17-6
Upcoming:
April 18: vs. Nicholls State @ Biloxi, Miss.
April 19: @ Tulane
April 21-23: Old Dominion
21. West Virginia
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-13, 8-4 (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Coming into the weekend hot, after winning four straight series, the Mountaineers continued cooking against Texas Christian, walking off against the Frogs on Friday and walking off again on Sunday to claim a huge Big 12 series. The Mountaineers held a 6-1 lead Saturday, but TCU scored five runs in the eighth to earn a comeback win. With the series win, West Virginia enters the Top 25 and sits at No. 8 in the RPI.
Results:
April 11: @ Maryland: L 7-6
April 14-16: (3) Texas Christian: W 5-4, L 8-6, W 5-4
Upcoming:
April 18: @ Marshall
April 21-23: @ Kansas State
22. St. John’s
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 26-5, 4-2 in Big East (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
St. John’s twice needed extra innings to sweep Butler, but made the extra innings count. The Red Storm scored 13 runs in three extra frames and are now 5-0 in extra-innings games this season. St. John’s is averaging 7.4 runs per game this season and will look to keep its offense rolling this week as it returns home for four games.
Results:
April 11: Albany: W 9-3
April 13-15: @ Butler: W 6-2 (10), W 5-3, W 12-3 (11)
Upcoming:
April 18: New York Tech
April 21-23: Fairleigh-Dickinson
23. Texas A&M
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 26-11, 8-7 in SEC (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Aggies extended their winning streak to six games with a perfect week. After starting Southeastern Conference play with five straight losses, Texas A&M is 8-2 in league play and has won three straight series. It will look to continue its hot streak this week as it returns home for four games.
Results:
April 11: Abilene Christian: W 8-1
April 13-15: @ Alabama: W 9-5, W 8-2, W 3-2
Upcoming:
April 18: Texas-Arlington
April 21-23: Tennessee
24. Houston
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 25-10, 6-3 in AAC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2-1
After splitting the first two games at Memphis, Houston claimed the series with a late comeback in the series finale. The Cougars’ offense has broken out the last two weekends, scoring 64 runs in six American Athletic Conference games. Houston has won back-to-back AAC series going into a key showdown against first-place Tulane this weekend.
Results:
April 11: @ Rice: L 4-3
April 13-15: @ Memphis: W 13-3, L 10-8, W 9-8
Upcoming:
April 18: vs. Sam Houston State @ Sugar Land, Texas
April 21-23: Tulane
25. Oregon
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-10, 6-6 in Pac-12 (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2-1
Oregon snapped Arizona’s 19-game home winning streak, which had been the longest in the nation, with a victory in the series opener. The Ducks lost the next two games, however, and lost their second straight Pac-12 series. Oregon will look to break that streak this weekend when it hosts Stanford.
Results:
April 11: Portland: W 6-1
April 13-15: @ (7) Arizona: W 8-4, L 5-4, L 18-4
Upcoming:
April 19: @ Portland
April 21-23: Stanford
DROPPED OUT
South Carolina
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-13, 8-7 in SEC (5-8 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-4
Results:
April 11: (4) North Carolina @ Charlotte: L 20-5
April 14-16: (13) Mississippi State: L 7-4, L 5-4, W 6-1
South Carolina’s skid continued as it was routed by North Carolina in Charlotte for the second straight year and then lost a home series against Mississippi State. The Gamecocks have lost three straight SEC series and seven of their last 11 games. Things won’t get any easier for South Carolina this week as it plays a critical series in Florida, where it has not won a series since 2011.
Upcoming:
April 18: Davidson
April 20-22: @ (15) Florida
Stanford
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 19-12, 5-7 in Pac-12 (1-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-3-1
After splitting the first two games against UCLA, Stanford grabbed a late lead in the rubber game, but was unable to hold on and lost in extra innings. The Cardinal have lost two of their last three Pac-12 series to tumble to seventh in the conference standings. Stanford will look to get back on track Tuesday in a nonconference game against California, which will be coach Mark Marquess’ final home game in the rivalry.
Results:
April 11: @ San Jose State: W 9-3
April 13-15: UCLA: L 2-0, W 5-3, L 7-6 (10)
Upcoming:
April 18: California
April 21-23: @ (25) Oregon
Connecticut
Last Week: 0-4
Overall: 19-14, 6-3 in AAC (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Connecticut came into the week having won nine of its last 10 games, including sweeps in its first two AAC series. That streak came to an end as the Huskies lost all four of their games last week and were swept at Tulane. Connecticut will look to get back on track with a pair of home midweek games before hitting the road to take on Central Florida in another tough AAC series.
Results:
April 11: @ Bryant: L 9-3
April 13-15: @ Tulane: L 8-3, L 3-1, L 6-5 (12)
Upcoming:
April 17: Quinnipiac
April 18: Massachusetts
April 21-23: @ Central Florida
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