Top 25 Tracker (April 18)
1. Miami
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 29-5, 13-3 in ACC (9-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
It was a bit of an uneven weekend for the Hurricanes in Durham, where all three of their games with Duke were blowouts. They gave up double-digit runs for just the second time all season in Saturday’s loss but bounced back in the rubber game, led by Danny Garcia’s seven shutout innings and a three-run homer from Zack Collins. The end result is their seventh straight series win, and they remain alone in first place overall in the ACC.
RESULTS
April 12: Nova Southeastern (Fla.): W 8-3
April 13: Central Florida: W 8-4
April 15-17: @ Duke: W 14-2, L 12-5, W 9-0
UPCOMING
April 20: (21) Florida Atlantic
April 22-24: Virginia
2. Florida
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 33-5, 11-4 in SEC (9-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Florida finished off a season sweep of Florida State for the second time in three years and then kept the momentum going with a perfect weekend in Fayetteville against struggling Arkansas–the first time Arkansas has been swept at home in SEC play since 2010. A.J. Puk returned to the rotation Thursday and struck out nine over five innings, while Peter Alonso led the way offensively, hitting .438 on the week.
RESULTS
April 12: @ (6) Florida State: W 8-2
April 14-16: @ Arkansas: W 12-8, W 9-2, W 8-2
UPCOMING
April 19: Jacksonville
April 21-23: Georgia
3. Texas A&M
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 29-7, 10-5 in SEC (5-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
The Aggies have responded emphatically to their getting swept by Florida two weeks ago, posting back-to-back sweeps of Georgia and now Mississippi State. In all, they piled up 30 runs on 47 base hits against Mississippi State, and they were especially hot late, scoring 15 of their 30 runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Going back to the UGa. series, A&M has scored double-digit runs in five straight conference games for the first time since 1987.
RESULTS
April 12: Abilene Christian: W 10-4
April 15-17: @ (2) Mississippi State: W 10-3, W 10-6, W 10-5
UPCOMING
April 19: Texas State
April 22-24: Alabama
4. Texas Christian
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-8, 9-3 in Big 12 (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
TCU has lost its last two midweek games, the latest at the hands of Dallas Baptist, but continues to take care of business on the weekends. The Frogs have now won eight straight games against Oklahoma, allowing just five runs combined in a three-game sweep this weekend, although they’re still chasing Texas Tech atop the Big 12.
RESULTS
April 12: Dallas Baptist: L 9-1
April 15-16: Oklahoma: W 11-3, W 12-2 (7 innings), W 2-0
UPCOMING
April 19: @ Abilene Christian
April 22-24: @ Oklahoma State
5. Louisiana State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 25-11, 9-6 in SEC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Missouri has a pair of frontline starters in Reggie McClain and Tanner Houck, but LSU knocked both of them around, scoring seven runs on McClain and eight on Houck. The lineup piled up 20 hits to finish the sweep on Sunday, led by catcher Jordan Romero who went 4-for-6 with a homer.
RESULTS
April 12: McNeese State: L 7-0
April 13: Grambling State: W 14-11
April 15-17: @ Missouri: W 7-5, W 9-5, W 15-2
UPCOMING
April 20: Southeastern Louisiana
April 22-24: (7) Mississippi State
6. Louisville
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 29-7, 13-5 in ACC (6-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
The Cardinals rebounded from a tough series loss at Florida State with a perfect 5-0 week, culminating in a loud weekend sweep of Clemson. The Cardinals had to come from behind Sunday to finish off the sweep, getting a walk-off double from top prospect Corey Ray, who also hit his 10th homer of the season Sunday.
RESULTS
April 12: Western Kentucky: W 14-2
April 13: @ (16) Kentucky: W 9-6
April 15-17: Clemson: W 15-2, W 7-2, W 9-8
UPCOMING
April 19: (19) Kentucky
April 22-24: @ Boston College
7. Mississippi State
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 24-12-1, 8-7 in SEC (9-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
Mississippi State came in flying high after winning a series at then-No. 1 Florida, only to be humbled by Texas A&M, which bludgeoned MSU’s normally stout pitching. The Bulldogs’ bullpen, so integral to the Florida series, was hit particularly hard, allowing a total of 19 runs in 16 innings of work. MSU now finds itself in third place in the SEC West behind A&M and Louisiana State—its next SEC opponent.
RESULTS
April 13: Memphis: W 11-1
April 15-17: (4) Texas A&M: L 10-3, L 10-6, L 10-5
UPCOMING
April 20: vs. Louisiana-Monroe @ Biloxi, Miss.
April 22-24: @ (5) Louisiana State
8. Vanderbilt
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 28-8, 9-6 in SEC (6-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
The Commodores got back on track with a series win against Kentucky. Pitching ruled the weekend, but Vanderbilt got the timely hitting it needed, namely a clutch eighth-inning two-run single from Bryan Reynolds on Saturday. Worth noting: the Commodores switched up their rotation, giving freshman righthander Patrick Raby the start Sunday.
RESULTS
April 12: Middle Tennessee State: W 7-4
April 15-17: (16) Kentucky: W 3-0, W 3-2, L 3-0
UPCOMING
April 19: Central Arkansas
April 22-24: @ Tennessee
9. UC Santa Barbara
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 24-7-1, 5-1 in Big West (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1-1
The Gauchos had little difficulty putting away Cal State Northridge, sweeping the series to claim first place in the Big West. Righthander Shane Bieber threw a shutout Friday—his second straight complete game—and the rest of the UCSB staff followed suit with two more quality outings.
RESULTS
April 15-17: Cal State Northridge: W 1-0, W 5-4, W 8-2
UPCOMING
April 18: Nevada
April 22-24: @ Cal Poly
10. Texas Tech
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 29-9, 11-1 in Big 12 (7-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1-1
The Red Raiders are red hot, having won 13 of their last 14 games and nine in a row. Texas Tech took care of business in its last non-conference weekend, sweeping 10-23 San Diego State.
RESULTS
April 13: Sam Houston State: W 8-6, W 20-3
April 15-17: San Diego State: W 3-1, W 10-0, W 7-2
UPCOMING
April 19-20: @ New Mexico
April 22-24: Texas
11. Florida State
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 23-11, 10-4 in ACC (7-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
The Seminoles lost a weekend series to Wake Forest for the first time since 2002, and in the process dropped behind Louisville to second place in the ACC Atlantic. Jackson Lueke’s five-RBI day led FSU in Saturday’s win, but the offense went silent otherwise, scoring just four runs combined in the week’s three losses.
RESULTS
April 12: (3) Florida: L 8-2
April 15-17: @ Wake Forest: L 9-0, W 13-8, L 4-2
UPCOMING
April 19-20: Stetson
April 22-24: Notre Dame
12. South Carolina
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 29-8, 11-4 in SEC (7-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
Dominant as they’ve been at home (22-1), the Gamecocks have been mortal away from Columbia, owning just a 7-7 record in road/neutral site games after going 1-3 against UNC and Georgia. Clarke Schmidt’s complete game win on Friday was about the only bright spot in a week the Gamecocks gave up double-digit runs twice.
RESULTS
April 13: vs. (14) North Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.: L 15-0
April 15-17: @ Georgia: W 3-1, L 13-4, L 5-3
UPCOMING
April 20: vs. Furman @ Greenville, S.C.
April 22-24: Missouri
13. Rice
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 24-11, 12-3 in CUSA (4-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
The Owls are on a tear, winning 15 of their last 17 games and pulling into their customary spot at the top of the Conference USA standings. Even better, with Saturday’s doubleheader sweep, head coach Wayne Graham earned his 1,100th career win with the program.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Texas State: W 3-1
April 15-16: Western Kentucky: W 9-3, W 5-2, W 3-2
UPCOMING
April 22-24: @ Southern Mississippi
14. North Carolina State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 26-10, 10-6 in ACC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
The Wolfpack added a bit more clarity to the ACC picture with two dominant wins at Georgia Tech, a team that has flirted with Top 25 status itself. N.C. State had won eight straight before the Yellow Jackets exploded Sunday to avoid the sweep.
RESULTS
April 11: Wake Forest: W 6-1
April 12: @ Elon: W 23-3
April 15-17: @ Georgia Tech: W 8-3, W 15-6, L 16-7
UPCOMING
April 19: @ East Carolina
April 22-24: North Carolina A&T
15. Mississippi
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 26-10, 7-8 in SEC (4-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-3
Ole Miss has lost three of its last four series to slip under .500 at the midway point of SEC play. Brady Bramlett and two relievers combined on the Rebels’ first shutout of the season in Friday’s win, but Alabama’s tough pitching staff won out over the next two days. Ole Miss managed just five hits in Saturday’s shutout loss and stranded 11 men on base on Sunday.
RESULTS
April 13: (25) Southern Mississippi: L 5-1
April 15-17: @ Alabama: W 4-0, L 2-0, L 7-2
UPCOMING
April 20: Murray State
April 22-24: Auburn
16. North Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 25-11, 9-9 in ACC (6-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
UNC’s week began promisingly enough with an eye-opening 15-0 win against then-No. 5 South Carolina in Charlotte, but the Tar Heels couldn’t ride that wave into Charlottesville, where they lost two of three to Virginia. UNC pitchers issued 13 walks in the rubber game—the Tar Heels’ fourth straight Sunday loss.
RESULTS
April 13: vs. (5) South Carolina @ Charlotte, N.C.: W 15-0
April 15-17: @ Virginia: L 7-4, W 8-1, L 15-9
UPCOMING
April 19: (25) Coastal Carolina
April 20: William & Mary
April 22-24: @ Wake Forest
17. Long Beach State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-13, 5-4 in Big West (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
The Dirtbags continue to find ways to win weekend series, with their lone series loss coming against UC Santa Barbara two weeks ago. The Dirtbags rallied late Friday to support starter Chris Mathewson and won in 12 innings, then powered their way past the Anteaters on Saturday, led by a pair of home runs.
RESULTS
April 11: @ Cal State Northridge: L 4-2
April 15-17: UC Irvine: W 3-2 (12 innings), W 8-3, L 7-2
UPCOMING
April 19: @ Southern California
April 22-24: @ UC Riverside
18. Michigan
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 25-9, 6-2 in Big Ten (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
After losing a non-conference matchup at Michigan State, its fourth loss in five games, Michigan pulled out of its skid and finished the week with a key sweep of Nebraska. The Wolverines’ offense got back on track, as they scored 23 runs on the weekend. After three weekends of Big Ten Conference play, Michigan has pushed itself near the top of the league’s crowded standings.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Michigan State: L 11-5
April 13: Eastern Michigan: W 19-3
April 15-17: Nebraska: W 10-6, W 7-2, W 6-1
UPCOMING
April 20: Toledo
April 22-24: @ Iowa
19. Kentucky
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 23-12, 9-6 in SEC (3-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
Kentucky hadn’t lost a conference series—or any weekend series—before facing Vanderbilt. Though the Wildcats lost two of three, they can take solace in the pitching performances of starters Zack Brown, Dustin Beggs and Kyle Cody, who each put Kentucky in position to win against the SEC’s top run-scoring offense.
RESULTS
April 12: Eastern Kentucky: PPD
April 13: (11) Louisville: L 9-6
April 15-17: @ (12) Vanderbilt: L 3-0, L 3-2, W 3-0
UPCOMING
April 19: @ (6) Louisville
April 21-23: Arkansas
20. California
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 21-11, 9-6 in Pac-12 (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-4-1
The Golden Bears have hit a rough patch, losing two straight series in the unpredictable Pac-12 and dropping five of their last eight games. Perhaps more disconcerting: ace righthander Daulton Jefferies missed his third straight start with a calf injury.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Cal Poly: W 7-1
April 15-17: @ Arizona State: L 6-4, W 8-4 (11 innings), L 4-0
UPCOMING
April 19: Stanford
April 22-24: Arizona
21. Florida Atlantic
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 25-8, 11-4 in C-USA (2-1vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Florida Atlantic bounced back from its first losing weekend of the year to win another Conference USA series at Marshall. After a return visit from Florida Gulf Coast, FAU will go back on the road this week with games at Miami and Florida International. The Owls are in the middle of a stretch where eight of nine games are away from home.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Florida Gulf Coast: L 3-2 (11 innings)
April 15-17: @ Marshall: W 6-3 (11 innings), W 10-2, L 7-2
UPCOMING
April 19: Florida Gulf Coast
April 20: @ (1) Miami
April 22-24: @ Florida International
22. Oregon State
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 23-9, 6-6 in Pac-12 (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
The Beavers took a bad series loss to Washington State, losing two of three to a team that’s 12-20 overall and in last place in the Pac-12. It’s their first series loss to Wazzu since 2010 and drops the Beavs to just 6-6 in the conference, having lost each of their first two league road series.
RESULTS
April 12: Portland: PPD
April 14-16: @ Washington State: W 12-3, L 7-5, L 8-3
UPCOMING
April 18: @ Oregon
April 21-23: @ Utah
23. Michigan State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 25-7, 7-2 in Big Ten (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
The Spartans began their week with a non-conference win against rival Michigan and finished it in first place in the Big Ten after their third straight series win to begin conference play. Michigan State has another five-game week upcoming, but will get to stay at home for the duration.
RESULTS
April 12: (22) Michigan: W 11-5
April 13: vs. Central Michigan @ Detroit (Comerica Park): W 7-3 (14 innings)
April 15-17: @ Purdue: W 11-0, W 5-3, L 5-2
UPCOMING
April 19: Notre Dame
April 20: Western Michigan
April 22-2: Indiana
24. Louisiana-Lafayette
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 24-12, 10-5 in Sun Belt (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
After beating Tulane on Tuesday, Louisiana-Lafayette finished off its week with a solid non-conference series win against Southeastern Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won four straight series and will return to Sun Belt action this weekend, as they try to close the gap on first-place South Alabama.
RESULTS
April 12: (24) Tulane: W 9-2
April 13: @ New Orleans: PPD
April 15-17: vs./@/@ Southeastern Louisiana: W 4-1, L 16-5, W 5-4
UPCOMING
April 19: Nicholls State
April 20: McNeese State
April 22-24: Texas State
25. Coastal Carolina
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 27-10, 11-1 in Big South (1-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
The Chanticleers have won seven straight games and 14 of their last 15. With another conference sweep, Coastal Carolina has opened a commanding lead in the Big South. The Chanticleers have a three-game lead on High Point, which will travel to Conway, S.C., this weekend for a showdown between the conference’s best teams.
RESULTS
April 13: College of Charleston: W 5-3
April 15-17: Presbyterian: W 5-2, W 4-2, W 12-3
UPCOMING
April 19: @ (16) North Carolina
April 20: College of Charleston
April 22-24: High Point
DROPPED OUT
South Alabama
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-10, 16-2 in Sun Belt (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
After picking up a solid midweek win at Southeastern Louisiana, South Alabama surprisingly lost its first Sun Belt Conference games of the year at last place Appalachian State. The Jaguars remain in first place even after the shocking result but will face more challenges in the second half of the conference season.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Southeastern Louisiana: W 2-1
April 15-17: @ Appalachian State: L 4-3, W 8-1, L 4-3
UPCOMING
April 20: @ Alabama
April 22-24: Southern
Tulane
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-13, 4-4 in American (4-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1-1
Since winning its first two games against East Carolina, Tulane has lost four of its last five—including three at home. While the Green Wave’s success this season has largely been based on a strong pitching staff, their offense has struggled, scoring just eight runs in the skid. Tulane will look to get back on track Tuesday against a tough Southern Mississippi team before hitting the road for a series at Central Florida.
RESULTS
April 12: @ Louisiana-Lafayette: L 9-2
April 15-17: Cincinnati: L 2-1, W 1-0, L 7-4
UPCOMING
April 19: Southern Mississippi
April 22-24: @ Central Florida
Southern Mississippi
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-10, 12-3 in CUSA (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1
Southern Mississippi lost its first two games at Alabama-Birmingham, posting its first losing weekend of the year. The Eagles finished the series strong with a win Sunday and will need to quickly put the slip up behind them. After a visit to Tulane on Tuesday, Southern Miss will host Rice in a showdown between the two teams atop the Conference USA standings.
RESULTS
April 13: @ (8) Mississippi: W 5-1
April 15-17: @ Alabama-Birmingham: L 5-3, L 8-7, W 11-0 (7 innings)
UPCOMING
April 19: @ Tulane
April 22-24: (13) Rice
Comments are closed.