Top 25 Tracker (April 10)
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: 4-0
Overall: 28-1, 12-0 in Pac-12 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0
The Beavers simply can’t lose. Oregon State opened a series against Utah by walking off on back-to-back nights, including a 16-inning battle Saturday. Then the Beavers rode a stellar 8.1 innings by righthander Jake Thompson on Sunday to finish off the sweep. Oregon State has now won 23 consecutive games—tying the 1988 Arizona State team for longest winning streak by a Pac-12 Conference team.
Results:
April 4: @Portland: W 4-3
April 7-9: Utah: W 5-4, W 5-4 (16), W 5-1
Upcoming:
April 11: Gonzaga
April 13-15: @ Washington
2. Louisville
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-4, 12-3 in ACC (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-0
The Cardinals had to battle this weekend against a surging Wake Forest team and lost for the first time this season at home in Friday’s game, despite another strong outing from lefthander Brendan McKay. But the Cardinals proved resilient rallying in the eighth inning of both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games to come back and win the series. The Cardinals will take their talents to Atlanta this weekend.
Results:
April 4: (13) Kentucky: W 5-3
April 7-9: (17) Wake Forest: L 2-1, W 7-6, W 7-5
Upcoming:
April 11: Purdue
April 13-15: @ Georgia Tech
3. Texas Christian
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 26-5, 8-1 in Big 12 (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Taking a weekend reprieve from Big 12 Conference play, the Horned Frogs handled Murray State fairly easily, flexing their offensive muscle across three games and outscoring the Racers 37-10. The Horned Frogs have won 12 games in a row and swept three straight series. They’ll resume conference play with a tough test at West Virginia this weekend.
Results:
April 4: @ Texas-Arlington: W 5-4
April 7-9: Murray State: W 9-2, W 15-6, W 13-2 (8)
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Dallas Baptist
April 14-16: @ West Virginia
4. North Carolina
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 26-6, 12-3 in ACC (6-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
For the first time this season, ace righthander J.B. Bukauskas struggled, allowing seven runs (five earned) in Chestnut Hill. It didn’t matter. The Tar Heels continued to roll, scoring double-digit runs in all three games to sweep Boston College. It’s possible UNC might’ve found a Sunday starter, as freshman righthander Austin Bergner throw five strong innings in Sunday’s game.
Results:
April 4: East Carolina: W 3-2 (11)
April 8-9: @ Boston College: W 17-7, W 16-4, W 15-3 (8)
Upcoming:
April 11: (17) South Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.
April 14-16: North Carolina State
5. Clemson
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 28-5, 13-2 in ACC (4-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Clemson’s weekend rotation of Charlie Barnes, Alex Eubanks and Pat Krall continued to throw the ball well against a powerful Virginia Tech offense, holding the Hokies in check while the Clemson bats went to work. Freshman shortstop Logan Davidson had a nice weekend, going 7-for-14 and homering. The Tigers will head to Tallahassee this weekend to take on a slumping Florida State team.
Results:
April 4: @ Georgia: W 4-0
April 7-9: Virginia Tech: W 12-1, W 6-3, W 8-3
Upcoming:
April 11: Charleston Southern
April 15-17: @ Florida State
6. Texas Tech
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 28-7, 6-3 in Big 12 (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
The Red Raiders rebounded from their first series loss of the season—at Oklahoma—to take two out of three from Big 12 foe Baylor. The Raiders very nearly swept before the Bears rallied for six runs in the ninth inning in Sunday’s finale.
Results:
April 4: @ New Mexico State: W 15-4
April 7-9: Baylor: W 13-6, W 5-3, L 10-9
Upcoming:
April 11: New Mexico
April 13-15: @ Kansas State
7. Arizona
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 23-8, 7-5 in Pac-12 (1-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
After winning a midweek rivalry battle against Arizona State, the Wildcats blasted Washington State on Friday, scoring 19 runs on 21 hits—including home runs from Cal Stephenson, Alfonso Rivas and J.J. Matijevic. The Wildcats will face stiffer competition against Oregon this weekend, as the Ducks enter the Top 25 this week.
Results:
April 4: Arizona State: W 11-2
April 7-9: @ Washington State: W 19-5, L 9-3, W 6-5
Upcoming;
April 11: @ Grand Canyon
April 13-15: (22) Oregon
8. Cal State Fullerton
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 21-10, 5-1 in Big West (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1-1
Cal State Fullerton has been somewhat streaky this season, but fortunately for the Titans, they’ve had more winning streaks than losing streaks. They’ve now won six in a row on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Ace Connor Seabold was dominant Friday, throwing a shutout, and right fielder Ruben Cardenas homered in his return from injury, adding instant depth to the Fullerton lineup.
Results:
April 4: San Diego: W 13-2
April 7-9: UC Davis: W 6-0, W 9-8, W 8-5
Upcoming:
April 13-15: @ Southern California
9. Louisiana State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 22-11, 7-5 in SEC (3-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
The Tigers were sorely in need of a series win after dropping two straight Southeastern Conference series to Florida and Texas A&M, respectively. LSU seemed to be heading in that direction again after Arkansas roughed up ace Alex Lange on Friday, but the Tigers pulled themselves together to win the next two games and earn a much-needed series win.
Results:
April 4: Grambling State: W 13-2
April 7-9: @ (16) Arkansas: L 9-3, W 10-8, W 2-0
Upcoming:
April 11: Louisiana-Lafayette @ Metairie, La.
April 13-15: Mississippi
10. Auburn
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 24-10, 8-4 in SEC (5-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
The Tigers slipped for the first time this year after an impressive opening run in the SEC in which they swept Florida and took a series against South Carolina. Auburn couldn’t continue the magic at Texas A&M, despite taking the series opener. Righthander Casey Mize continued to dominate on the mound, striking out 12 and allowing just two hits in seven innings in the Friday game.
Results:
April 4: Georgia Tech: L 11-8
April 7-9: @ Texas A&M: W 2-1, L 6-3, L 3-1
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Samford
April 13-15: @ Tennessee
11. Oklahoma
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-8, 5-4 in Big 12 (6-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
The Sooners had won their first two Big 12 series—against Baylor and Texas Tech—before stumbling at Texas in the Red River Rivalry over the weekend. The Sooners will look to bounce back in an intriguing non-conference series against Michigan, which entered the Top 25 this week.
Results:
April 4: Oral Roberts: W 6-2
April 7-9: @ Texas: L 5-3, L 9-3, W 2-1
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Oral Roberts
April 13-15: @ (23) Michigan
12. Long Beach State
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 20-11, 5-1 in Big West (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
Long Beach State kept rolling last week and has now won its last six games and 10 of its last 12. The Dirtbags gave up just four runs all week, throwing three shutouts, doubling their season total. Beach has swept all three of its home series this season and will look to extend that streak this weekend against Cal State Northridge.
Results:
April 4: Southern California: W 6-0
April 7-9: UC Riverside: W 8-0, W 11-4, W 3-0
Upcoming:
April 13-15: Cal State Northridge
13. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 22-12, 8-4 in SEC (6-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Powered by first baseman Brent Rooker, Mississippi State won its third straight SEC series to climb into a tie for first place in the West Division. In five games last week, Rooker hit .625/.750/1.813 with six home runs and 13 RBIs and leads the SEC in all triple crown categories. Rooker and the Bulldogs will look to keep their hot streak doing this weekend at South Carolina.
Results:
April 4-5: Florida International: L 8-3, W 9-7
April 7-9: (13) Kentucky: L 5-2, W 10-6, W 10-6
Upcoming:
April 11: Mississippi Valley State
April 14-16: @ (17) South Carolina
14. Virginia
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 26-8, 8-7 in ACC (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-3
After facing ACC powers North Carolina, Clemson and Louisville in three of the first four conference weekends, Virginia climbed above .500 in the conference for the first time this season with a sweep of Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers offense flexed its muscles last week, averaging 10 runs per game. They will look to stay hot this week against in-state opponents Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia Tech.
Results:
April 4: Old Dominion: W 18-5
April 5: George Washington: W 11-1
April 7-9: Pittsburgh: W 12-1, W 5-2, W 4-3
Upcoming:
April 11: Virginia Commonwealth
April 13-15: @ Virginia Tech
15. Kentucky
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-11, 8-4 in SEC (9-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
Though the Wildcats went 1-3 last week, it came against fierce competition, starting with a midweek rivalry match at No. 2 Louisville. Kentucky lost its first SEC series of the season at red-hot Mississippi State, falling victim to the Brent Rooker Show. The Wildcats will look to get back on track at Missouri.
Results:
April 4: @ (2) Louisville: L 5-4
April 7-9: @ (22) Mississippi State: W 5-2, L 10-6, L 10-6
Upcoming:
April 12: Texas-Martin
April 14-16: @ Missouri
16. Florida
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 21-11, 6-6 in SEC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Gators lost consecutive 10-inning games to lose a series to visiting Tennessee—a team that was 1-8 in conference play heading into the series. Florida bounced back to win Sunday’s series finale and is just two games out of first place in a tightly compact SEC East. But Florida will need to get back on track this week, as it travels to rival Florida State on Tuesday and Vanderbilt for the weekend.
Results:
April 7-9: Tennessee: L 7-6 (10), L 3-2 (10), W 5-4
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Florida State
April 13-15: @ Vanderbilt
17. South Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-10, 7-4 in SEC (4-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
For the second straight weekend, the Gamecocks were one out away from winning a series. They held a 3-2 lead in Saturday’s game with two outs in the ninth before Reed Hayes hit a pinch-hit single to tie the score and send the game into extras. South Carolina has struggled closing out games but should get a boost this week, with electric closer Tyler Johnson slated to return from injury.
Results:
April 4: Furman: W 6-1
April 6-8: Vanderbilt: L 7-6, L 5-3 (13), W 6-1
Upcoming:
April 11: (4) North Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.
April 14-16: (13) Mississippi State
18. Stanford
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 17-10, 4-5 in Pac-12 (1-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2-1
After getting swept by Oregon State last weekend, Stanford had a bounceback week. It started with a win Tuesday against rival California, giving coach Mark Marquess the 1,600th victory of his career. Stanford finished the week with a series win at Southern California, its first conference road series of the season. The Cardinal will go for the Los Angeles double this weekend when it hosts UCLA.
April 4: California: W 8-4
April 6-8: @ Southern California: L 7-5, W 8-3, W 6-3
Upcoming:
April 11: @ San Jose State
April 13-15: UCLA
19. Arkansas
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 25-8, 8-4 in SEC (3-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Entering the seventh inning Saturday, Arkansas appeared to be on its way to a banner week. It had beaten Grand Canyon in a pair of midweek games, taken the opener from Louisiana State and held a seven-run lead in the second game of the series. But the Razorbacks were unable to finish out the series victory as the Tigers scored the final nine runs of the game in a stunning comeback and then won the series with a shutout Sunday. Despite the series loss, Arkansas is still tied for first in the SEC West and will look to regroup this week.
Results:
April 4-5: Grand Canyon: W 11-2, W 6-1
April 7-9: (15) Louisiana State: W 9-3, L 10-8, L 2-0
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Missouri State
April 13-15: Georgia
20. Wake Forest
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-10, 9-6 in ACC (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
Wake Forest on Friday became the first team to beat Louisville at Jim Patterson Stadium this season, snapping the Cardinals’ 36-game regular season home winning streak. The Demon Deacons were unable to capture the series, however, losing a pair of tight games the next two days. Wake Forest will get home-field advantage back this week, as it returns for four games to David F. Couch Ballpark, where it is 13-3 this season.
Results:
April 4-5: Elon: W 14-1
April 7-9: @ (2) Louisville: W 2-1, L 7-6, L 7-5
Upcoming:
April 11: Coastal Carolina
April 12: @ Elon
April 14-16: Notre Dame
21. Southern Miss
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 26-7, 10-2 in CUSA (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Southern Mississippi continued its impressive start in Conference USA play with its fourth straight series victory. Freshman outfielder/righthander Matt Wallner continued his incredible season with two home runs on the weekend to raise his season total to 11 and become just the second freshman in program history to hit 10 or more. Southern Miss, the CUSA leader, will head to Rice, mired in last place, this weekend.
Results:
April 4: vs. Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.: L 6-5 (12)
April 7-9: Florida International: W 15-4, W 5-1, L 10-4
Upcoming:
April 11: Mississippi
April 14-16: @ Rice
22. Oregon
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 21-8, 5-4 in Pac-12 (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1-1
The Ducks continue to roll, largely due to the dominance of ace lefthander David Peterson. The junior has a 0.64 ERA in his last six starts and hasn’t walked a batter in his last 24 innings. Sophomore righthander Matt Mercer (5-1, 2.15) behind him has been just as steady. The Ducks have started 5-4 in conference play and have key series wins this season against Mississippi State and Washington.
Results:
April 3: @ Brigham Young: W 9-6
April 7-9: UC Irvine: W 10-1, W 6-3, W 7-2
Upcoming:
April 11: Portland
April 13-15: @ (7) Arizona
23. Michigan
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-7, 6-3 in Big Ten (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1-1
Before losing its series finale Sunday against Illinois, Michigan had won nine straight games after losing the first two games of its series at Maryland on the opening weekend of Big Ten Conference play. The Wolverines’ winning streak pushed them to second in the conference and back into the Top 25. Michigan steps out of Big Ten action this weekend when it hosts Oklahoma, giving it an opportunity to add a marquee series win to its resume.
Results:
April 4: Notre Dame: W 4-3
April 7-9: Illinois: W 9-8, W 7-0, L 7-5
Upcoming:
April 11: Eastern Michigan
April 13-15: (11) Oklahoma
24. St. John’s
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-5, 1-2 in Big East (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
After a sizzling start the year, the Red Storm looked vulnerable last week. St. John’s had lost just twice on the year before the week but lost against Columbia and dropped two of three at Creighton in Omaha—nearly getting swept after battling for 14 innings in Friday’s opener.
Results:
April 5: Columbia: L 7-4
April 7-9: @ Creighton: W 3-2 (14), L 7-4, L 5-1
Upcoming:
April 11: Albany
April 13-15: @ Butler
25. Connecticut
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 19-10, 6-0 in AAC (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
After starting the season with 25 games away from home, Connecticut returned to Storrs this week. After losing their home opener Tuesday, the Huskies swept Memphis to improve to 6-0 in the American Athletic Conference. It is the first time UConn has been 6-0 in conference play since 1976, when it was a member of the Yankee Conference. Connecticut will look to extend that streak as it goes back on the road this week to take on Tulane.
Results:
April 5: Hartford: L 6-4
April 7-9: Memphis: W 6-2, W 10-7, W 4-0
Upcoming:
April 11: @ Bryant
April 13-15: @ Tulane
DROPPED OUT
Florida Gulf Coast
Last Week: 1-4
Overall: 25-9, 2-4 in A-Sun (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
It was a tough week for FGCU. It lost four road games, all by one run, and is 2-6 in its last eight games. In Sunday’s series finale at Stetson, FGCU was no-hit through eight innings, led off the ninth with a triple, and still was unable to break through for the run it needed to tie the game. After starting the season 23-3, FGCU has lost back-to-back series to start Atlantic Sun play and will look to get back on track in conference action back home in Fort Myers this week.
Results:
April 4-5: @ (24) Florida State: L 7-6, L 3-2 (5)
April 7-9: @ Stetson: L 2-1, W 4-2, L 1-0
Upcoming:
April 12: @ Miami
April 13-15: South Carolina-Upstate
Florida State
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 21-13, 7-8 in ACC (2-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Florida State won its first three games of the week, but was unable to close out a series win at North Carolina State and lost its third ACC series in the last four weeks. The Seminoles are 3-6 in the last two weeks and are already six games behind first-place Clemson in the Atlantic Division. After finishing on Tuesday the season series with rival Florida, the Seminoles will have a chance to make up some of that ground this week, as the Tigers come to Tallahassee this weekend.
Results:
April 4-5: (18) Florida Gulf Coast: W 7-6, W 3-2 (5)
April 7-9: @ North Carolina State: W 16-7, L 4-3, L 8-4
Upcoming:
April 11: (16) Florida
April 15-17: (5) Clemson
Maryland
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 20-10, 6-3 in Big Ten (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
For the first time since the second weekend of the season, Maryland had a losing weekend. Going into their series at Nebraska, the Terrapins had gone 18-3 since their last series loss, but were unable to extend that streak against the Cornhuskers. Maryland will look to get back on track with four home games this week. It his 11-1 at Bob “Turtle” Stadium this season.
Results:
April 4: Richmond: W 12-11
April 7-9: @ Nebraska: L 3-1, W 8-5, L 8-4
Upcoming:
April 11: West Virginia
April 12: @ George Mason
April 14-16: Penn State
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