Top 25 Tracker (April 11)
1. Miami
Last Week: 2-0
Overall: 25-4, 11-2 in ACC (9-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Bad weather almost wiped out the Hurricanes’ series at Notre Dame. The teams managed to play through the cold and rain on Sunday, with Zack Collins’ 3-for-5, 5 RBI game leading Miami to the win as the Canes ascend to the No.1 spot for the first time since 2008.
RESULTS
April 5: Florida Gulf Coast: W 4-0
April 9-10: @ Notre Dame: CCD, CCD, W 10-2
UPCOMING
April 13: Central Florida
April 15-17: @ Duke
2. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 23-9-1, 8-4 in SEC (9-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
The Bulldogs won a series in Gainesville for the first time since 2007, adding the series win at Florida to a resume that includes wins at Vanderbilt and at home against Mississippi. MSU’s bullpen came up especially huge, throwing a combined 10 innings and allowing just two runs in the Bulldogs’ two wins.
RESULTS
April 5: Tennessee-Martin: W 14-0
April 8-10: @ (1) Florida: L 8-2, W 10-4, W 2-1
UPCOMING
April 13: Memphis
April 15-17: (4) Texas A&M
3. Florida
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 29-5, 8-4 in SEC (8-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Florida’s 29-game home winning streak ended Saturday, and the Gators went on to suffer their second series loss in three weeks after stranding 13 runners on base in Sunday’s rubber game. Dane Dunning took the hard-luck loss Sunday, starting in A.J. Puk’s stead as the Gators elected not to push the potential No. 1 overall pick as he deals with an ailing back.
RESULTS
April 5: Jacksonville: W 7-2
April 8-10: (5) Mississippi State: W 8-2, L 10-4, L 2-1
UPCOMING
April 12: @ (6) Florida State
April 14-16: @ Arkansas
4. Texas A&M
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-7, 7-5 in SEC (2-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
The Aggies bounced back from their getting swept at Florida by routing Georgia by a combined 30-3 score, improving to 20-1 at home. Hunter Melton led the onslaught, hitting three home runs and driving in 10 runs on the weekend, and the Aggies as a group hit five homers in Saturday’s 15-1 blowout.
RESULTS
April 5: @ (25) Rice: L 4-3
April 8-10: Georgia: W 5-0, W 15-1, W 10-2
UPCOMING
April 12: Abilene Christian
April 15-17: @ (2) Mississippi State
5. South Carolina
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 28-5, 10-2 in SEC (7-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
With Florida and Vanderbilt both losing series, South Carolina holds a two-game lead in the SEC East at 10-2 in the league—its best start to SEC play since the Gamecocks joined the conference in 1992. The Gamecocks ran their home record to 22-1 after pulling out four close games against Coastal Carolina and Tennessee.
RESULTS
April 5: Coastal Carolina: W 4-2
April 8-10: Tennessee: W 7-6, W 7-4, W 4-3
UPCOMING
April 12: vs. (14) North Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.:
April 15-17: @ Georgia
6. Florida State
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 22-8, 9-2 in ACC (7-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-0
With the weather finally cooperating after back-to-back abbreviated weekends, the Seminoles’ bats were free to let loose against both Texas Tech and Louisville. FSU used a seven-run seventh to claim the opener against the Cardinals, then jumped on righthander Kyle Funkhouser on Sunday for a gaudy series-clinching win.
RESULTS
April 5-6: (23) Texas Tech: W 10-1, L 8-4
April 8-10: (4) Louisville: W 12-7, L 7-1, W 16-5
UPCOMING
April 12: (3) Florida
April 15-17: @ Wake Forest
7. Texas Christian
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 24-7, 6-3 in Big 12 (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
TCU started the week with a pair of unexpected losses but did manage to pull out the series win on the road at 10-18 Kansas. Dalton Horton’s seven shutout innings helped turn the series around Saturday, and the Frogs slugged three home runs in Sunday’s rubber game rout.
RESULTS
April 5: Texas-Arlington: L 4-3
April 8-10: @ Kansas: L 4-3, W 8-0, W 14-6
UPCOMING
April 12: Dallas Baptist
April 15-17: Oklahoma
8. Mississippi
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 25-7, 6-6 in SEC (4-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
The Rebels ran into South Carolina and Mississippi State at the wrong time the last two weekends, but they returned to their winning ways with a convincing sweep of Arkansas—their first sweep of the Razorbacks since 2009. Ace Brady Bramlett set the tone with a 12-strikeout gem on Friday, and there was no stopping Ole Miss from there.
RESULTS
April 5: vs. Southern Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.: W 6-2
April 8-10: Arkansas: W 7-3, W 14-9, W 8-7
UPCOMING
April 13: (25) Southern Mississippi
April 15-17: @ Alabama
9. Louisiana State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 21-10, 6-6 in SEC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Tigers put together their most impressive weekend of the season thus far, taking two of three from Vanderbilt and nearly sweeping the series if not for a late Vanderbilt rally Saturday. Head coach Paul Mainieri earned career win 1,300 on Friday, becoming just the 16th Division I coach to reach that mark.
RESULTS
April 5: Southern: W 11-1
April 7-9: (6) Vanderbilt: W 13-4, W 3-2, L 9-7
UPCOMING
April 12: McNeese State
April 13: Grambling State
April 15-17: @ Missouri
10. Oregon State
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 22-7, 5-4 in Pac-12 (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
The Beavers stepped out of conference play for a weekend and had no issues disposing of 13-17 Central Arkansas. They’ve still only had one losing weekend all season—that disastrous sweep at Cal two weeks ago.
RESULTS
April 8-10: Central Arkansas: W 6-2, W 6-2, W 7-1
UPCOMING
April 12: Portland
April 15-17: @ Washington State
11. Louisville
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 24-7, 10-5 in ACC (5-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Other than Drew Harrington’s (7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) sterling effort on Saturday, the Cardinals had a forgettable weekend in their visit to Tallahassee since 1991. FSU knocked around Brendan McKay (4 IP, 10 H, 3 ER) and Kyle Funkhouser (3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 ER) on Friday and Sunday, respectively, as the Cards dropped their third Top-25 road series.
RESULTS
April 4: Virginia Tech: W 9-3
April 6: @ (19) Kentucky: PPD
April 8-10: @ (11) Florida State: L 12-7, W 7-1, L 16-5
UPCOMING
April 12: Western Kentucky
April 13: @ (16) Kentucky
April 15-17: Clemson
12. Vanderbilt
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 25-7, 7-5 in SEC (4-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Vanderbilt took its second series loss in four weeks of SEC play, though it managed to salvage Saturday’s finale and avoid a sweep at the hands of LSU. The Commodores had to rally from a 7-4 deficit in the late innings just to win that one, taking the lead on Jeren Kendall’s three-shot in the eighth.
RESULTS
April 5: Lipscomb: W 4-3
April 7-9: @ (15) Louisiana State: L 13-4, L 3-2, W 9-7
UPCOMING
April 12: Middle Tennessee State
April 15-17: (16) Kentucky
13. UC Santa Barbara
Last Week: 1-1-1
Overall: 21-7-1, 2-1 in Big West (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1-1
The Gauchos split an intriguing non-conference cross-country trip to College of Charleston, winning Friday behind a complete game from junior righthander Shane Bieber. The Gauchos rallied for two runs in the ninth Sunday to avoid the series loss. UCSB will resume Big West play this weekend.
RESULTS
April 8-10: @ College of Charleston: W 7-4, L 10-3, T 6-6
UPCOMING
April 15-17: Cal State Northridge
14. North Carolina
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 23-9, 8-7 in ACC (5-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Behind stellar starts from righthanders Zac Gallen and J.B. Bukauskas, UNC got back on track in ACC play, winning its first conference series since March 18-20 at Duke. However, a home midweek loss to a 9-24 UNC Asheville team won’t do UNC’s RPI any favors.
RESULTS
April 5: High Point: W 8-1
April 6: UNC Asheville: L 3-2
April 8-10: Virginia Tech: W 6-0, W 4-1, L 4-3
UPCOMING
April 12: vs. (5) South Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.
April 15-17: @ Virginia
15. Texas Tech
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 24-9, 11-1 in Big 12 (7-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1-1
After splitting a midweek series at Florida State, Texas Tech scored its first ever sweep on the road of a ranked Big 12 opponent with an emphatic weekend against Oklahoma State. Texas Tech is off to an 11-1 start in conference play and has won 10 straight Big 12 games, the fifth-longest streak in conference history.
RESULTS
April 5-6: @ (11) Florida State: L 10-1, W 8-4
April 8-10: @ (16) Oklahoma State: W 5-1, W 8-2, W 15-5 (7 innings)
UPCOMING
April 12-13: Sam Houston State
April 15-17: San Diego State
16. Kentucky
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 22-9, 8-4 in SEC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0
Kentucky’s veteran rotation of Zack Brown, Dustin Beggs and Kyle Cody outpitched a very good Alabama staff, and a walk-off grand slam Saturday by Riley Mahan ensured a sixth winning weekend for the Wildcats. The intensity ramps up this week with games against rival Louisville and Vanderbilt.
RESULTS
April 6: (4) Louisville: PPD
April 8-10: Alabama: W 3-2, W 6-2, L 2-1
UPCOMING
April 12: Eastern Kentucky
April 13: (11) Louisville
April 15-17: @ (12) Vanderbilt
17. California
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 19-9, 8-4 in Pac-12 (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-3-1
Cal continues to be a different team away from Berkeley. While 12-3 at home, the Golden Bears have lost three of their four road series, including this past weekend when they lost to a struggling Oregon team that hadn’t won a series in a month. The only consolation is they’re still tied for first place in the Pac-12 at 8-4.
RESULTS
April 5: Stanford: L 8-6
April 8-10: @ Oregon: W 12-2, L 4-3, L 11-5
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Cal Poly
April 15-17: @ Arizona State
18. Long Beach State
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 19-11, 3-2 in Big West (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
The Dirtbags still have another game to play at Cal State Northridge, but they clinched the series with a doubleheader sweep Sunday, showing a bit more offensive firepower than usual with a season-high 12 runs in the nightcap. Long Beach State pitchers, meanwhile, notched 27 strikeouts between the two games.
RESULTS
April 5: @ San Diego State: L 6-5 (12 innings)
April 10: @ Cal State Northridge: W 6-3, W 12-0
UPCOMING
April 11: @ Cal State Northridge
April 15-17: UC Irvine
19. Rice
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 20-11, 9-3 in CUSA (4-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Rice started the week with a big win against Texas A&M before taking two out of three against Alabama-Birmingham to win its fourth straight series to open Conference USA play. Since starting the season 3-5, the Owls have won 17 of their last 23 games.
RESULTS
April 5: (3) Texas A&M: W 4-3
April 8-10: Alabama-Birmingham: W 7-3, L 6-2, W 3-0
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Texas State
April 15-17: Western Kentucky
20. North Carolina State
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 22-9, 7-5 in ACC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
Since losing to Boston College to open ACC play, North Carolina State has bounced back with series wins against Notre Dame, Virginia and now Wake Forest. The Wolfpack offense has been a key factor in those series wins, averaging more than seven runs per game in that run.
RESULTS
April 6: Charlotte: W 7-3
April 8-9: Wake Forest: W 11-7, W 3-2 (10 innings)
UPCOMING
April 11: Wake Forest
April 12: @ Elon
April 15-17: @ Georgia Tech
21. Florida Atlantic
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-6, 9-3 in CUSA (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Results:
The Owls hadn’t lost a weekend series until Charlotte came to town last weekend, and even still, it took a marathon 15 innings on Sunday for the 49ers to claim it. Scoring wasn’t a problem for Florida Atlantic, but the Owls will need more from their starting pitching after three subpar outings on the weekend.
RESULTS
April 5: @ Central Florida: W 5-0 (11 innings)
April 8-10: Charlotte: L 12-7, W 17-8, L 7-6 (15 innings)
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Florida Gulf Coast
April 15-17: @ Marshall
22. Michigan
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 21-8, 3-2 in Big Ten (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
Off to one of the best starts in team history, the Wolverines went through their first rough patch of the season, losing at Notre Dame midweek, then dropping both games of a doubleheader at home to Minnesota. This week won’t get easier with matchups against rival Michigan State and current Big Ten leader Nebraska.
RESULTS
April 5: @ Notre Dame: L 9-5
April 6: Bowling Green State: W 5-0
April 8-10: Minnesota: L 8-1, L 5-3, CCD
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Michigan State
April 13: Eastern Michigan
April 15-17: Nebraska
23. South Alabama
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 25-8, 15-0 in Sun Belt (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
South Alabama stayed undefeated in the Sun Belt Conference with a sweep of Arkansas State, and has already opened a 4 1/2 game advantage in the league. The Jaguars have won 13 straight home games, a streak it will look to extend this weekend against Appalachian State.
RESULTS
April 5: @ Alabama State: L 12-7
April 6: New Orleans: W 12-3
April 8-10: Arkansas State: W 8-2, W 12-7, W 3-2
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Southeastern Louisiana
April 15-17: Appalachian State
24. Tulane
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-10, 3-2 in AAC (4-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0-1
Tulane saw its 11-game home winning streak snapped, but continues to be tough to beat in Turchin Stadium, improving to 15-3 at home. The Green Wave got a pair of complete games in their two wins against East Carolina, as Ross Massey and Emerson Gibbs combined to hold the PIrates to two runs in 18 innings.
RESULTS
April 5: Southeastern Louisiana: L 7-6
April 8-10: (22) East Carolina: W 5-2, W 3-0, L 7-3
UPCOMING
April 12: @ Louisiana-Lafayette
April 15-17: Cincinnati
25. Southern Mississippi
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-8, 11-1 in CUSA (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-0
Southern Mississippi has been excellent in weekend series this year, losing only two games. It swept another Conference USA opponent last weekend, winning all three games against Middle Tennessee State to run its conference winning streak to 10 games.
RESULTS
April 5: vs. (14) Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.: L 6-2
April 8-10: Middle Tennessee State: W 6-4, W 9-5, W 12-11
UPCOMING
April 13: @ (8) Mississippi
April 15-17: @ Alabama-Birmingham
DROPPED OUT
Oklahoma State
Last Week: 0-3
Overall: 19-12, 4-5 in Big 12 (3-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-3
In a battle for Big 12 supremacy, the Cowboys simply couldn’t keep pace with the Red Raiders, outscored 28-8 on the weekend despite playing at home. Two straight losing weekends have pushed Oklahoma State out of the Top 25.
RESULTS
April 8-10: (23) Texas Tech: L 5-1, L 8-2, L 15-5
UPCOMING
April 12: Oral Roberts
April 15-17: @ Baylor
Clemson
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-9, 8-7 in ACC (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Clemson became the latest ranked team to fall victim to Duke, joining California and Georgia Tech in losing two of three games to the Blue Devils. For the Tigers, it was the second ACC road series loss in a row. Clemson will be on the road again next weekend, with a visit to Louisville on tap.
RESULTS
April 5: @ Georgia: W 11-6
April 8-10: @ Duke: L 5-3, W 3-2, L 2-1
UPCOMING
April 12: Western Carolina
April 15-17: @ (11) Louisville
East Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-11, 3-3 in AAC (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
East Carolina struggled to get its offense going at Tulane, averaging three runs in a series loss. The Pirates have now lost two of their three road series this season. After the first two weekends of conference play, East Carolina is in the middle of a tightly packed AAC.
RESULTS
April 5: @ Elon: W 7-5 (11 innings)
April 8-10: @ Tulane: L 5-2, L 3-0, W 7-3
UPCOMING
April 12: @ UNC Wilmington
April 15-17: @ Memphis
Houston
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 19-12, 3-3 in American (2-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
After losing five of six games, Houston broke out of that skid with back-to-back wins against Central Florida to claim another series win. The Cougars’ offense has scuffled the last two weeks, as they’ve averaged just 2.1 runs per game. Houston will look to get its bats going this week as it hits the road to play Texas and Connecticut.
RESULTS
April 5: @ McNeese State: L 4-1
April 8-10: Central Florida: L 2-1, W 4-3, W 1-0
UPCOMING
April 12: vs. Texas @ Sugar Land, Texas
April 15-17: @ Connecticut
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