Top 25 Tracker (April 25)
1. Florida
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 36-6, 13-5 in SEC (9-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-2
Florida begins its third stint at No. 1 this spring after winning a weekend series against SEC East rival Georgia for the eighth time in nine years under Kevin O’Sullivan. The Gators’ pitching was in top form, allowing just four runs in four games on the week, highlighted by Logan Shore’s two-hit shutout—in which he faced the minimum 27 hitters—against Georgia on Friday.
RESULTS
April 19: Jacksonville: W 3-1
April 21-23: Georgia: L 2-1 (12 innings), W 6-0, W 4-1
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: @ (6) South Carolina
2. Texas A&M
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 32-8, 12-6 in SEC (5-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-1
Jonathan Maroney’s walk-off single won Sunday’s rubber game against Alabama, as the Aggies won their third straight series and maintained a two- game lead in the SEC West. Senior righthander Andrew Vinson was the unsung hero of the weekend, throwing a combined six innings of one-hit shutout relief on Friday and Sunday.
RESULTS
April 19: Texas State: W 14-1
April 22-24: Alabama: W 4-3 (10 innings), L 7-4, W 2-1
UPCOMING
April 26: Texas-Arlington
April 29-May 1: @ Arkansas
3. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-13-1, 10-8 in SEC (11-8 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-1
The Bulldogs bounced back from getting swept at home by Texas A&M by winning two of three in Baton Rouge, their first series win against Louisiana State since 2006. Nathaniel Lowe had six RBIs, including a grand slam, in Friday’s slugfest win, while Austin Sexton (7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) won an outstanding pitching duel with LSU star Alex Lange to clinch the series Saturday.
RESULTS
April 20: vs. Louisiana-Monroe @ Biloxi, Miss.: W 1-0 (14 innings)
April 22-24: @ (5) Louisiana State: W 12-8, W 2-1, L 11-8
UPCOMING
April 26: vs. (9) Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.
April 28-30: @ Alabama
4. Miami
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 30-8, 14-5 in ACC (9-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-2
Miami dropped a weekend set for the first time since its Week 2 series loss to Florida, as Virginia came to Coral Gables and took two of three. The Hurricanes weren’t able to overcome rocky starts by Thomas Woodrey (4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER) on Friday or Danny Garcia (6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER) on Sunday, though the good news is they still have a comfortable four-game lead in the ACC Coastal Division.
RESULTS
April 20: (21) Florida Atlantic: L 4-3
April 22-24: Virginia: L 6-5, W 9-2, L 7-3
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: Florida A&M
5. Florida State
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 28-11, 13-4 in ACC (7-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-1
The Seminoles rebounded from a series loss at Wake Forest by going 5-0 on the week and cooling off what had been a hot Notre Dame team. Florida State swept despite the Irish taking an early lead in all three games. With the sweep, the Seminoles surged to the top of the ACC Atlantic Division standings.
RESULTS
April 19-20: Stetson: W 8-5, W 8-6
April 22-24: Notre Dame: W 12-6, W 7-6 (12 innings), W 11-6
UPCOMING
April 30-May 2: @ Clemson
6. South Carolina
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 33-8, 14-4 in SEC (7-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-3
The Gamecocks eased past Missouri to move into first place in the SEC East, setting up a pivotal series with Florida. Leadoff hitter Gene Cone was the catalyst against the Tigers, going 10-for-12 in the series and setting a program record with a 27-game hitting streak.
RESULTS
April 20: vs. Furman @ Greenville, S.C.: W 14-4
April 22-24: Missouri: W 8-5, W 5-1, W 9-2
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: (1) Florida
7. Texas Christian
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 28-10, 10-5 in Big 12 (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Two-way star freshman Luken Baker had another big offensive weekend (7-for-11) but had his start on the mound come to an early end on Friday with a possible muscle strain in his arm. That was the beginning of a long weekend in Stillwater for the Horned Frogs, who were blown out Friday and fell into an 8-0 hole on Sunday, though they did make things interesting late.
RESULTS
April 19: @ Abilene Christian: CCD
April 22-24: @ Oklahoma State: L 9-0, W 11-6, L 11-7
UPCOMING
April 26: @ Dallas Baptist
April 29-May 1: (13) Texas Tech
8. Louisiana State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-13, 10-8 in SEC (4-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-3
LSU celebrated a reunion of its 1996 national championship team over the weekend at Alex Box Stadium, but Mississippi State spoiled the party, taking two of three. Kramer Robertson and Bryce Jordan homered in Sunday’s win as the Tigers managed to avoid the sweep, leaving them in a three-way tie for second place in the SEC West with MSU and Mississippi.
RESULTS
April 20: Southeastern Louisiana: W 11-4
April 22-24: (7) Mississippi State: L 12-8, L 2-1, W 11-8
UPCOMING
April 26: @ (20) Tulane
April 28-30: @ (9) Mississippi
9. Mississippi
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 31-10, 10-8 in SEC (4-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
The Rebels got back on the winning track with a perfect 5-0 week. Auburn didn’t make it easy on them; Ole Miss used a four-run seventh-inning rally Friday and a four-run ninth-inning rally Sunday to seal a sweep.
RESULTS
April 19: @ Memphis (AutoZone Park): W 7-0
April 20: Murray State: W 8-3
April 22-24: Auburn: W 6-4, W 7-4, W 6-5
UPCOMING
April 26: vs. (3) Mississippi State @ Pearl, Miss.
April 28-30: (8) Louisiana State
10. Louisville
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 31-9, 13-5 in ACC (7-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-4
Louisville’s mystifying inability to win on the road continues. The Cards did score a dramatic walk-off win against rival Kentucky on Tuesday, improving to 24-1 at home, but they weren’t able to carry that into Boston College, where the offense dried up in their two losses. Louisville fell to 7-8 on the road and has lost all four of its road weekend series.
RESULTS
April 19: (19) Kentucky: W 7-6
April 22-24: @ Boston College: L 6-1, L 2-1, W 6-2
UPCOMING
April 27: Florida International
April 29-May 1: St. John’s
11. Vanderbilt
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 30-10, 10-8 in SEC (6-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-3
Tennessee won its first SEC series of the season, doing it by beating in-state rival Vandy for the second time in three years. Jordan Sheffield got the Commodores’ weekend off on the right foot with eight shutout innings Friday, but the offense was limited to just four hits in Saturday’s loss, and Tennessee’s three-run sixth inning proved decisive on Sunday.
RESULTS
April 19: Central Arkansas: W 8-6
April 22-24: @ Tennessee: W 6-0, L 2-1, L 5-3
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: Georgia
12. North Carolina State
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 28-11, 10-6 in ACC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Wolfpack took care of business in a non-conference series against North Carolina A&T, flexing its muscle for its second 20-plus run game in the last two weeks. The Wolfpack did run into trouble midweek against East Carolina but has won 12 of its last 15 games overall.
RESULTS
April 19: @ East Carolina: L 15-3
April 22-24: North Carolina A&T: CCD, W 9-1, W 24-1
UPCOMING
April 25: (21) East Carolina
April 29-May 1: Duke
13. Texas Tech
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 31-12, 12-3 in Big 12 (7-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2-1
Texas Tech hasn’t won a series at home against Texas since 2002, a drought that extended in embarrassing fashion as the 19-21 Longhorns mercy-ruled Tech 17-1 in Sunday’s rubber game. The only good news is that with TCU also losing its series to Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders still have a two-game lead atop the Big 12 standings.
RESULTS
April 19-20: @ New Mexico: W 7-4, L 6-5 (10 innings)
April 22-24: Texas: W 13-6, L 7-4, L 17-1 (7 innings)
UPCOMING
April 26-27: @/vs. Abilene Christian
April 29-May 1: @ (7) Texas Christian
14. Southern Mississippi
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 29-12, 14-4 in CUSA (4-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
Going into its weekend series against Rice, Southern Miss had lost three of its last four games, its worst stretch of the season. But the Golden Eagles were able to pull themselves out of the funk and won their first ever three-game series in Hattiesburg against the Owls. With the series win, Southern Miss took sole possession of first place in Conference USA, a game ahead of Rice and two ahead of Florida Atlantic, which it will visit this weekend.
RESULTS
April 19: @ Tulane: L 12-0
April 22-24: (13) Rice: W 2-1, L 4-3, W 2-1
UPCOMING
April 26: (23) Louisiana-Lafayette
April 27: @ New Orleans
April 29-May 1: @ Florida Atlantic
15. Rice
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 25-13, 13-5 in CUSA (4-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
After winning 15 of their previous 17 games, the Owls stumbled at Southern Mississippi, relinquishing the Conference USA lead with a series loss. Pitching ruled the series, as all three games were decided by one run.
RESULTS
April 22-24: @ Southern Mississippi: L 2-1, W 4-3, L 2-1
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: Charlotte
16. Michigan
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 28-10, 8-3 in Big Ten (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
Michigan won seven straight games—five straight Big Ten games—before Iowa won Sunday. The Wolverines have hit especially well in conference play, leading the Big Ten in average, slugging, on-base percentage and runs scored.
RESULTS
April 20: Toledo: W 2-1
April 22-24: @ Iowa: W 8-4, W 12-7, L 8-3
UPCOMING
April 29-May 1: Michigan State
17. UC Santa Barbara
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 25-10-1, 5-4 in Big West (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2-1
The Gauchos’ momentum came to a screeching halt. UCSB hit just .188 as a team and was outscored 21-8 in getting swept by hard-charging Cal Poly, dropping to 5-4 in the Big West. Only one of the games was close, with the Gauchos stranding the tying run at third base in the ninth inning on Sunday, their bid to avoid the sweep coming up just short.
RESULTS
April 18: Nevada: W 5-4
April 22-24: @ Cal Poly: L 7-0, L 10-5, L 4-3
UPCOMING
April 26: @ Saint Mary’s
April 29-May 1: Hawaii
18. Oregon State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 26-10, 8-7 in Pac-12 (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-2
Oregon State began its week with a tense victory at archrival Oregon, as the Beavers found a way to pull out a victory even after blowing an eight-run lead. They finished the week with a much-needed road series win at Pac-12 Conference leading Utah, their first road series win of the season. Oregon State will look to stay hot this week, as it visits Oregon for another midweek rivalry game before returning home to face Stanford.
RESULTS
April 18: @ Oregon: W 11-10
April 21-23: @ Utah: W 10-4, W 7-2, L 7-6
UPCOMING
April 27: @ Oregon
April 29-May 1: Stanford
19. Coastal Carolina
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 30-11, 12-2 in Big South (2-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0 (one series pending)
With three wins last week, Coastal Carolina reached 30 victories on the season for the 18th time in coach Gary Gilmore’s 21 years at the school. Rain on Friday pushed Coastal’s weekend series against High Point, the second place team in the Big South, back a day. After looking to finish off another series win Monday, the Chanticleers will step outside conference play next weekend for a series at Georgia Tech, giving them a chance to add another solid series win to their hosting resume.
RESULTS
April 19: @ (16) North Carolina: W 6-3
April 20: College of Charleston: W 9-5
April 23-24: High Point: L 5-2, W 17-5
UPCOMING
April 25: High Point
April 29-May 1: @ Georgia Tech
20. Tulane
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 26-13, 7-4 in AAC (4-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-1-1
Tulane posted a perfect week, including a pair of shutouts against Southern Miss and Central Florida. Sunday’s victory was Tulane’s 10th shutout of the season, setting a program record. Tulane gets to stay at home for some big games this week, with Louisiana State and Houston coming to Greer Field. Its fans have taken note, and the game Tuesday against LSU is already sold out.
RESULTS
April 19: Southern Mississippi: W 12-0
April 22-24: @ Central Florida: W 4-3, W 4-1, W 6-0
UPCOMING
April 26: (8) Louisiana State
April 29-May 1: Houston
21. East Carolina
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 26-14, 7-5 in AAC (5-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
East Carolina opened its week by dealing North Carolina State its biggest defeat of the season, and finished it with another conference series win. The Pirates continue to grind out close games, with its solid pitching staff leading the way. East Carolina faces a tough week, with a return trip to North Carolina State on Monday, followed by a visit from Cincinnati, the surprise American Athletic Conference leaders.
RESULTS
April 19: (14) North Carolina State: W 15-3
April 20: @ High Point: L 5-1
April 23-24: Connecticut: W 2-1 (10 innings), L 5-1, W 3-2
UPCOMING
April 25: @ (12) North Carolina State
April 29-May 1: Cincinnati
22. Virginia
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 26-17, 11-10 in ACC (5-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-4
Virginia has not lost a series to Miami since 2009, and it extended that streak this weekend in Coral Gables. The Cavaliers have won back-to-back series against ranked opponents and seem to again be rounding into form at the right time of the year. Virginia will travel to Pittsburgh this weekend for its last road series of the season.
RESULTS
April 19: Radford: W 11-3
April 20: Virginia Commonwealth: L 11-5
April 22-24: @ (1) Miami: W 6-5, L 9-2, W 7-3
UPCOMING
April 26: @ Old Dominion (Harbor Park)
April 29-May 1: @ Pittsburgh
23. Louisiana-Lafayette
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 27-13, 12-6 in Sun Belt (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-1
Louisiana-Lafayette continued its upward momentum, winning its fifth straight series to cut South Alabama’s lead in the Sun Belt Conference to four games. The Ragin’ Cajuns continue to pitch well, holding their opponents to just six runs in four games last week. ULL will face a stiff test Tuesday when it visits No. 14 Southern Miss before hitting the road again for a conference series at Texas-Arlington.
RESULTS
April 19: Nicholls State: W 4-3
April 20: McNeese State: CCD
April 22-24: Texas State: W 5-1, L 2-1, W 1-0
UPCOMING
April 26: @ (14) Southern Mississippi
April 27: Louisiana Tech
April 29-May 1: @ Texas-Arlington
24. Minnesota
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 25-11, 9-2 in Big Ten (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
Minnesota has begun the Big Ten Conference season with four straight series wins to move into first place in the standings and into the Top 25 for the first time since 2009. This weekend, the Golden Gophers began a seven-game road trip with a sweep at Northwestern to improve to 9-2 in the league. They have already matched last season’s Big Ten win total, with half their conference slate still to be played.
RESULTS
April 19: North Dakota State: W 10-0
April 22-24: @ Northwestern: W 6-5, W 10-1, W 8-0
UPCOMING
April 26: @ North Dakota State
April 29-May 1: @ Illinois
25. Oklahoma State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 25-14, 9-6 in Big 12 (4-8 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-3
Since losing back-to-back Big 12 Conference series, Oklahoma State has gotten back on track and has now won six of its last seven games. It scored its biggest series win of the year this weekend, taking two of three games against Texas Christian. The win put the Cowboys back in the conference race, 2 1/2 games behind league-leading Texas Tech.
RESULTS
April 20: @ Oklahoma: W 4-3
April 22-24: (4) Texas Christian: W 9-0, L 11-6, W 11-7
UPCOMING
April 26: @ Arkansas
April 27: Arkansas-Little Rock
April 29-May 1: @ Texas
DROPPED OUT
North Carolina
Last Week: 1-4
Overall: 26-15, 9-12 in ACC (6-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-4
April has not been kind to the Tar Heels, as UNC has dropped three of its four series and gone 6-11 overall. The Tar Heels never led in their three games against Wake Forest, a team that has been rolling of late.
RESULTS
April 19: (25) Coastal Carolina: L 6-3
April 20: William & Mary: W 17-2
April 22-24: @ Wake Forest: L 6-1, L 5-4, L 3-2
UPCOMING
April 26: UNC Wilmington
April 27: Campbell
Long Beach State
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-16, 6-6 in Big West (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-2
It was a difficult week for the Dirtbags, who lost at USC midweek before dropping a series at UC Riverside. Saturday’s 14-13 shootout was a particularly tough loss, as the Dirtbags rallied for three runs in the ninth only to lose in walk-off fashion.
RESULTS
April 19: @ Southern California: L 8-3
April 22-24: @ UC Riverside: L 4-3, L 14-13, W 10-7
UPCOMING
April 26: San Diego State
April 29-May 1: Cal Poly
Kentucky
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 24-15, 10-8 in SEC (3-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-2
The Wildcats had won their first four SEC series before stumbling these last two weeks against Vanderbilt and Arkansas and dropping both rivalry games to Louisville. Offense has been the culprit, as the Wildcats were shut out twice this weekend and three times in their last seven games.
RESULTS
April 19: @ (6) Louisville: L 7-6
April 22-23: Arkansas: L 1-0 (10 innings), L 2-0 (7 innings), W 4-3 (7 innings)
UPCOMING
April 26: Dayton
April 27: Miami (Ohio)
April 29-May 1: @ Auburn
California
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 22-14, 9-9 in Pac-12 (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-5-1
Without ace Daulton Jefferies, the Golden Bears have lost their last three weekend series. Luck simply hasn’t been on Cal’s side of late, as the Bears were also without senior righthander Ryan Mason this past weekend. This week won’t get easier with games against Cal Poly and Washington on tap.
RESULTS
April 19: Stanford: W 5-2
April 22-24: Arizona: L 3-0, L 8-5 (13 innings), L 7-6
UPCOMING
April 26: Cal Poly
April 29-May 1: Washington
Florida Atlantic
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 27-10, 12-6 in CUSA (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-2
After earning a big win at top-ranked Miami on Wednesday, Florida Atlantic was then dealt an upset of its own, as Florida International won their first two games to claim the series. The Owls, which posted winning records the first six weekends of the season, have now lost two of their last three Conference USA series. FAU will have to quickly get back on track, as conference leader Southern Mississippi comes to Boca Raton this weekend.
RESULTS
April 20: @ (1) Miami: W 4-3
April 22-24: @ Florida International: L 7-6, L 4-3, W 9-1
UPCOMING
April 26: Central Florida
April 29-May 1: (14) Southern Mississippi
Michigan State
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 27-10, 8-4 in Big Ten (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
Michigan State was unable to take advantage of being able to stay at home for some big games last week. The games were almost all nail-biters, as the Spartans played three one-run games and an extra-innings affair. Unfortunately for Michigan State, it went 1-3 in those games and dropped a key Big Ten Conference series to Indiana. It will have to rebound quickly, with its rivalry series against Michigan on tap this weekend.
RESULTS
April 19: Notre Dame: L 1-0
April 20: Western Michigan: W 6-5
April 22-24: Indiana: L 3-2, W 9-0, L 8-4 (11 innings)
UPCOMING
April 27: Toledo
April 29-May 1: @/vs./@ (16) Michigan
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