Top 25 Tracker (March 13)
SEE ALSO: Top 25
Top 25 Tracker, powered by Louisville Slugger, recaps last week’s action and looks ahead to this week.
1. Louisville
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 15-0, 3-0 in ACC (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
It would be difficult to pitch much better than the Cardinals did in their ACC series opener against Pittsburgh. A week after missing a start due to an abdominal issue, lefthander Brendan McKay struck out a career-high 15 in seven scoreless innings Friday. Righthander Kade McClure followed up with six scoreless innings Saturday, and freshman lefthander Nick Bennett added another six scoreless innings of his own on Sunday. All together, Louisville starters combined for 19 scoreless and 25 strikeouts as the Cardinals continued to motor through their early season slate.
Results:
March 8: Fort Wayne: W 12-2
March 10-12: Pittsburgh: W 3-0, W 8-2, W 3-1
Upcoming:
March 15: Xavier
March 17-19: Boston College
2. Florida State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 13-3, 2-1 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
The weekend began inauspiciously for the Seminoles, who dropped their ACC opener to visiting Boston College in an 8-5 loss. However, Florida State quickly rebounded, sweeping Saturday’s doubleheader and outscoring the Eagles 24-1 across both games. Junior shortstop Taylor Walls had his most productive weekend of the season, driving in six runs and homering twice.
Results:
March 7-8: @ Central Florida: W 5-2, W 5-0
March 10-11: Boston College: L 8-5, W 11-1, W 13-0
Upcoming:
March 14: @ (5) Florida
March 15: (21) Florida Gulf Coast
March 17-19: @ Virginia Tech
3. Texas Christian
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 12-3, 0-0 in Big 12 (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
For the first time on the young season, the Horned Frogs stumbled, dropping two out of three at UC Irvine. Pitching was to blame, as starters Brian Howard (0.1 IP, 8 ER) and Nick Lodolo (5 IP, 4 ER) were roughed up in the first inning of Friday’s and Saturday’s game, respectively. The Frogs did manage to salvage the series and give the Anteaters a taste of their own medicine in the Sunday game, scoring 16 runs on 17 hits. The series was TCU’s final tune-up before beginning Big 12 play.
Results:
March 7: Dallas Baptist: W 3-2 (10)
March 10-12: @ UC Irvine: L 11-2, L 6-3, W 16-7
Upcoming:
March 14: @ Long Beach State
March 17-19: Kansas
4. Oregon State
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 14-1, 0-0 in Pac-12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0
The Beavers continue to roll through their non-conference schedule, sweeping a four-game series with Ball State. The Beavers shut out the Cardinals in back-to-back games to begin the series, with starters Bryce Fehmel and Luke Heimlich combining for 16 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 15. Oregon State will open Pacific-12 Conference play at Arizona State next weekend.
Results:
March 9-11: Ball State: W 2-0, W 5-0, W 5-1, W 8-4
Upcoming:
March 16-18: @ Arizona State
5. Florida
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 12-5, 0-0 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
The Gators are 1-4 in midweek games this season after going undefeated in those contests a year ago. They lost twice to a red-hot Florida Gulf Coast team during the week and had to battle against Seton Hall to claim their final series win before Southeastern Conference play begins. The Pirates led the rubber game and nearly came away for the series win, but Florida outfielder Ryan Larson homered twice to power the Gators to a win.
Results:
March 7-8: @/vs. Florida Gulf Coast: L 7-3, L 3-2
March 10-11: Seton Hall: W 8-0, L 3-2 (13), W 4-3
Upcoming:
March 14: (2) Florida State
March 17-19: @ Auburn
6. Louisiana State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 11-4, 0-0 in SEC (0-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0
The Tigers bounced back from a 1-2 showing in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic with a clean sweep of the Shockers. Junior ace Alex Lange got back to his dominant self, throwing eight scoreless, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. Meanwhile, senior lefthander Jared Poche’ extended his scoreless streak 29 innings.
Results:
March 8: @ McNeese State: L 5-4
March 10-12: Wichita State: W 6-1, W 12-5, W 9-2
Upcoming:
March 14: Louisiana College
March 15: New Orleans
March 17-19: Georgia
7. Cal State Fullerton
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 9-5, 0-0 in Big West (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0-1
Runs were at a premium this weekend as Cal State Fullerton and Gonzaga engaged in a classic West Coast pitching battle. Connor Seabold and Eli Morgan exchanged complete-game efforts in a 1-0 loss Friday, before the Titans showed some offensive grit the next two days to win two one-run games.
Results:
March 7-8: @ Arizona State: W 10-4, W 13-4
March 10-12: Gonzaga: L 1-0, W 4-3, W 3-2
Upcoming:
March 14: San Jose State
March 15: (12) Arizona
March 17-19: New Mexico
8. East Carolina
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 12-4, 0-0 in American (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
East Carolina was stymied by surging Charlotte in Friday’s 2-0 loss, but they rallied back to claim the series. ECU won in walk-off fashion Saturday as Charlie Yorgen hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the 10th, and Jacob Wolfe threw seven scoreless to finish off Charlotte on Sunday.
Results:
March 7-8: @ College of Charleston: W 12-7, W 15-12
March 10-11: Charlotte: L 2-0, W 10-7 (10), W 3-0
Upcoming:
March 14: @ Duke
March 17-19: Mercer
9. Clemson
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 12-3, 3-0 in ACC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Riding the wave of a series win over rival South Carolina, the Tigers put together a perfect week. Seth Beer homered for the third straight game in a midweek bout with Michigan State, hitting a grand slam to put the game out of reach. In the ACC series opener against Notre Dame, both Friday starter Charlie Barnes and Sunday starter Alex Eubanks delivered strong starts to help Clemson to a sweep.
Results:
March 8: Michigan State @ Fluor Field, Greenville, S.C.: W 9-2
March 10-12: Notre Dame: W 4-1, W 6-5, W 4-0
Upcoming:
March 14-15: Yale
March 17-19: (15) Virginia
10. South Carolina
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 11-5, 0-0 in SEC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Weather cut South Carolina’s series against Michigan State short, but in two games, the Gamecocks showcased their formidable starting pitching. Junior ace Clarke Schmidt returned to form after a seven-walk effort against Clemson last weekend and struck out 12 and walked none in 7.1 strong innings. The next day, co-ace Wil Crowe delivered an equally sterling effort, striking out nine and allowing just one run in 6.1 innings.
Results:
March 7: The Citadel: W 12-5
March 8: Winthrop: W 8-6
March 10-11: Michigan State: W 3-2, W 5-2
Upcoming:
March 14: Furman @ Fluor Field, Greenville, S.C.
March 17-19: @ Tennessee
11. Texas Tech
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 14-3, 0-0 in Big 12 (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0
The Red Raiders came within one out of sweeping their weekend series, with lefthander Steven Gingery throwing 8.2 scoreless innings before the Roadrunners rallied for three runs to steal a win. Otherwise, Texas Tech continued to pound the ball, as the team has done all season long. The Red Raiders are averaging 7.3 runs per game.
Results:
March 7: (11) Arizona: W 13-1
March 10-12: Texas-San Antonio: W 7-6, L 3-2, W 8-4
Upcoming:
March 14: @ Texas-Arlington
March 17-19: @ Texas
12. Arizona
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 13-2, 0-0 in Pac-12 (1-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
In their final series before Pac-12 play, the Wildcats flexed their offensive muscle, scoring 20-plus runs in their first two games against Hartford and tacking on another 17 in a Sunday slugfest. Arizona outscored Hartford 63-21 but will face a much stiffer challenge against the stingy pitching staff of UCLA this weekend.
Results:
March 7: @ (14) Texas Tech: L 13-1
March 10-12: Hartford: W 21-5, W 25-3, W 17-13
Upcoming:
March 15: @ (7) Cal State Fullerton
March 17-19: @ UCLA
13. North Carolina
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 12-4, 2-1 in ACC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Following a series loss to Long Beach State, North Carolina rebounded for a 3-1 week. The Tar Heels averaged 7.5 runs per game on the week, helping UNC make a statement to start ACC play with its first series win against Virginia since 2012. After Tuesday’s game against Maryland, UNC will prepare to leave the friendly confines of Boshamer Stadium for the first time this season.
Results:
March 7: Virginia Commonwealth: W 8-2
March 10-11: (13) Virginia: W 9-4, L 2-1, W 12-2
Upcoming:
March 14: Maryland
March 17-19: @ Georgia Tech
14. Louisiana-Lafayette
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 9-4, 0-0 in Sun Belt (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
The Ragin’ Cajuns continued to rage, taking care of business against a winless St. Peter’s team. ULL pitchers combined to allow just one run in three games, outscoring St. Peter’s 20-1. Friday starter Gunner Leger came within one out of throwing a no-hitter, settling for an 8.2 inning scoreless one-hit effort instead.
Results:
March 10-12: St. Peter’s: W 10-0, W 6-1, W 4-0
Upcoming:
March 15: @ Louisiana Tech
March 17-19: Appalachian State
15. Virginia
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 13-3, 1-2 in ACC (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 1-1
Facing their toughest test of the season to this point—and playing in the only Top 25 series in the country—the Cavaliers struggled to contain North Carolina’s bats, with both lefthander Daniel Lynch and righthander Evan Sperling surrendering gaudy early leads. Two-way standout Adam Haseley had a strong series, though, hitting his sixth homer and holding UNC to one run in eight innings on Saturday. The Cavaliers will look to rebound against Clemson in another premium ACC battle.
Results:
March 7: @ George Washington: W 7-1
March 10-11: @ (17) North Carolina: L 9-4, W 2-1, L 12-2
Upcoming:
March 13: Monmouth
March 17-19: @ (9) Clemson
16. Baylor
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 14-2, 0-0 in Big 12 (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
Coming off an impressive weekend in Houston at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic, Baylor continued to roll last week. The Bears improved to 14-2 with three wins, matching the best start in program history. Baylor faces another tough week with a trip to Dallas Baptist, the defending Missouri Valley Conference champion, and a home series against West Virginia to open Big 12 play.
Results:
March 7: @ Sam Houston State: W 6-5
March 10-12: Houston: W 2-1, W 5-0, L 2-0
Upcoming
March 15: @ Dallas Baptist
March 17-19: West Virginia
17. Stanford
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 11-5, 0-0 in Pac-12, (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1-1
Stanford went to Rice having won nine of its last 10 games and won the opener against the Owls. But the Cardinal had to settle for a series split in Houston. Stanford will now take the week off for finals before starting its Pacific-12 Conference slate with a series against defending champion Utah.
Results:
March 9-12: @ Rice: W 16-6, L 4-0, L 12-2, W 2-0 (7)
Upcoming:
Off
18. Mississippi
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 11-5, 0-0 in SEC (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
Mississippi bounced back after an 0-4 week thanks to a stellar performance from its pitching staff. The Rebels held their opponents to one run in five games. In 37.2 innings, the Rebels starting pitchers combined struck out 40, walked five and allowed 12 hits. Ole Miss will look to carry that momentum forward this week, as it starts SEC play against Vanderbilt.
Results:
March 7-8: Georgia State: W 1-0, L 2-0 (11)
March 10-12: Furman: W 2-0, W 5-0, W 1-0
Upcoming:
March 14: vs. Nicholls State (Biloxi, Miss.)
March 17-19: Vanderbilt
19. St. John’s
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 12-2, 0-0 in Big East (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 1-0
After three tournaments to open the season, St. John’s took two out of three games at Liberty to win its first weekend series of the year. First baseman John Valente extended his hitting streak to 26 games dating back to last season and is now hitting .533/.575/.600 to lead the Red Storm. After spending the first four weeks on the road, St. John’s will return to Queens this weekend, with its home opener set for Saturday against Holy Cross.
Results:
March 10-11: @ Liberty: W 5-4 (10), W 4-2, L 7-6
Upcoming:
March 14: @ New York Tech
March 18-19: Holy Cross
20. Coastal Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 11-7, 0-0 in Sun Belt (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 1-0
Coastal lost its first two games of the week and was held hitless in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday until there were two outs in the eighth inning. But the Chanticleers came back to win that game on walk-off back-to-back home runs and carried that momentum to a doubleheader sweep. Now, Coastal faces a home-and-home with UNC Wilmington before its first-ever Sun Belt Conference series, a visit to Texas State.
Results:
March 8: Wake Forest: L 13-8
March 10-11: Illinois: L 7-6, W 3-2, W 6-0
Upcoming:
March 14-15: @/vs. UNC Wilmington
March 17-19: @ Texas State
21. Florida Gulf Coast
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 14-3, 0-0 in A-Sun (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
Though Florida Gulf Coast saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end Sunday against Ohio State, the Eagles’ still completed a fantastic week. FGCU swept a midweek home-and-home with Florida and then won its series against Ohio State, the 2016 Big Ten Conference Tournament champion. FGCU finishes a streak of 13-straight games against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams Wednesday against Florida State and then hosts Rutgers on the weekend.
Results
March 7-8: vs./@ (3) Florida: W 7-3, W 3-2
March 10-12: Ohio State: W 10-9, W 13-1, L 5-4
Upcoming
March 15: (2) Florida State
March 17-19: Rutgers
22. Texas A&M
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 14-3, 0-0 in SEC (1-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
Texas A&M bounced back from its tough finish in Houston at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic with a perfect five-game week against Texas-Rio Grande Valley and Brown. It was important for the Aggies to build momentum going into a big week. Texas A&M will visit archrival Texas on Tuesday before starting SEC play at home against Kentucky.
Results:
March 7-8: Texas-Rio Grande Valley: W 16-7, W 7-4
March 10-12: Brown: W 6-4, W 3-2, W 5-1
Upcoming:
March 14: @ Texas
March 17-19: Kentucky
23. Oklahoma State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 9-6, 0-0 in Big 12 (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series:
Oklahoma State opened a 10-game homestand last week with three victories and have won five of their last seven. Junior outfielder Garrett McCain continued his strong start to the season at the plate, going 6-for-9 in Sunday’s doubleheader and is now hitting .383/.479/.600. The Cowboys host New Mexico, the defending Mountain West Conference champion, for a midweek series and welcome Northwestern State to Stillwater for the weekend.
Results:
March 7: Missouri State: W 7-3
March 10-12: South Dakota State: L 2-1, W 6-3, W 8-3
Upcoming:
March 14-15: New Mexico
March 17-19: Northwestern State
24. Michigan
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 12-3, 0-0 in Big Ten (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 1-0-1
Following a 7-1 showing on its California trip, Michigan swept a series at Lipscomb, its first true road series of the season. The Wolverines have been solid on the mound, where ace lefthander Oliver Jaskie (2-0, 2.05) has helped them post a team ERA of 2.96. After spending the first 15 games away from home, Michigan will return to Ann Arbor this weekend for a four-game series against Northern Illinois.
Results:
March 10-12: @ Lipscomb: W 8-2, W 4-3, W 5-0
Upcoming:
March 17-19: Northern Illinois
25. Washington
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 9-6, 0-0 in Pac-12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0-2
The Huskies had a tough go of it against 7-9 Indiana State, splitting a four-game series. Washington has struggled some offensively this season, slugging .373 as a team. The Huskies did get strong outings on the mound, however, from ace righthander Noah Bremer (7 IP, 2 R, 7 K) and sophomore Joe DeMers (9 IP, 0 R, 6 K).
Results:
March 10-12: Indiana State: L 4-2, W 8-0, L 5-3, W 3-2
Upcoming:
March 17-19: @ Utah
DROPPED OUT
Georgia Tech
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 10-4, 1-2 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
Georgia Tech struggled on the mound at Miami, allowing a Hurricanes team that came into the weekend hitting .172/.273/.237 to score 32 runs on 37 hits and 23 walks in three games. After their first losing weekend of the season, the Yellow Jackets will have to bounce back quickly. Oklahoma and North Carolina are a combined 29-6 this season, and Georgia Tech will want to get over its tough start to ACC play as soon as possible.
Results:
March 10-12: @ Miami: L 10-8, W 7-5 (11), L 17-7
Upcoming
March 14: Oklahoma
March 17-19: (13) North Carolina:
North Carolina State
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 8-8, 1-2 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
North Carolina State had its second straight losing week, continuing its scuffling start to the season. The Wolfpack dropped to .500 on the season after losing the series at Wake Forest to begin the ACC season. NC State will look to get back on track this week, as it returns home to face Miami, which was also slow out of the gate this season but won its first ACC series against Georgia Tech.
Results:
March 6: Western Carolina: L 9-8
March 8: @ UNC-Wilmington: W 8-5
March 10-11: @ Wake Forest: L 6-4, W 8-5, L 6-5 (11)
Upcoming:
March 14: @ Elon
March 15: George Mason
March 17-19: Miami
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