Top 25 Tracker (March 21)
1. Florida
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 21-1, 3-0 in SEC (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
Florida opened the week by dominating rival Florida State as head coach Kevin O’Sullivan improved to 10-1 against FSU in Gainesville. The Gators got a push from Missouri, including needing extra innings to win on Friday, but nonetheless extended their winning streak to 15 games.
RESULTS
March 15: (13) Florida State: W 6-0
March 18-20: Missouri: W 4-3 (10 innings), W 6-2, W 7-5
UPCOMING
March 22: Florida Atlantic
March 25-27: @ Kentucky
2. Texas A&M
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 18-2, 2-1 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
Michael Barash’s walk-off homer capped off a wild game between the Aggies and rival Texas in the teams’ first regular-season meeting since 2012. A&M uncharacteristically struggled on the mound against Auburn but pulled out the series win, keyed by an eight-run fourth inning on Sunday.
RESULTS
March 15: Texas: W 5-4
March 19-20: @ Auburn: W 12-8, L 9-7, W 12-10
UPCOMING
March 22: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
March 24-26: (13) Louisiana State
3. Oregon State
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 15-2, 3-0 in Pac-12 (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0
The Beavers dominated Arizona State, outscoring the Sun Devils 22-7 in a three-game sweep. OSU’s three starters—Drew Rasmussen, Jake Thompson and Travis Eckert—combined to throw 23 1/3 innings and allowed just three runs on 12 hits.
RESULTS
March 18-20: Arizona State: W 3-2, W 12-2, W 7-3
UPCOMING
March 22: @ Portland
March 24-26: @ (15) California
4. Miami
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 16-4, 4-2 in ACC (3-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
Hurricanes head coach Jim Morris captured his 1,500th career win on Friday and did it in style, on Willie Abreu’s walk-off grand slam. Michael Mediavilla (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER) outpitched Louisville star Brendan McKay in Saturday’s series clincher, though the Canes came up a run short of finishing the sweep Sunday.
RESULTS
March 16: @ Central Florida: W 5-2
March 18-20: (4) Louisville: W 8-4, W 6-3, L 4-3
UPCOMING
March 23: Bethune-Cookman
March 25-27: (17) Clemson
5. Texas Christian
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 16-3, 3-0 in Big 12 (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
Upstart West Virginia carried a 6-3 lead into the late innings on Friday before TCU came storming back, putting up seven runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Frogs never looked back, outscoring WVU 21-4 over the next two days, with Luken Baker hitting their first grand slam since 2013 in Sunday’s win.
RESULTS
March 15: @ Rice: W 6-4
March 18-20: West Virginia: W 10-6, W 7-1, W 14-3 (7 innings)
UPCOMING
March 22: Abilene Christian
March 24-26: @ Texas
6. North Carolina
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 17-2, 5-1 in ACC (5-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
The Tar Heels are clicking in every aspect, with starters Zac Gallen, J.B. Bukausas and Jason Morgan all holding Duke to two runs or fewer on the weekend and with the offense—led by a red-hot Tyler Ramirez—scoring in double digits four out of five times on the week.
RESULTS
March 15: @ East Carolina: W 17-4
March 16: Elon: W 11-6
March 18-20: @ Duke: W 11-2, W 12-2, W 8-2
UPCOMING
March 22: Western Carolina
March 24-26: Georgia Tech
7. Mississippi
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 19-2, 2-1 in SEC (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
After seeing their 12-game winning streak end in walk-off fashion in the opener at Tennessee, the Rebels bounced right back and won the next two days, led by redshirt freshman Michael Fitzsimmons’ two-run home run Saturday and a 15-hit offensive attack Sunday.
RESULTS
March 15-16: @ Alabama-Birmingham: W 8-1, W 5-1
March 18-20: @ Tennessee: L 3-2, W 6-4, W 10-7
UPCOMING
March 22: Tennessee-Martin
March 24-26: (18) South Carolina
8. Louisville
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 16-4, 4-2 in ACC (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2
The Cardinals lost an ACC series for the first time since joining the league, dropping two of three in their first trip to Miami as an ACC member. While the Cards have lost two weekend series already, both have been on the road against what are now top 10 teams, Miami and Ole Miss. They get their chance at a marquee opponent on their turf this week when Virginia comes in.
RESULTS
March 15: Xavier: W 11-1
March 16: Wright State: W 9-1
March 18-20: @ (6) Miami: L 8-4, L 6-3, W 4-3
UPCOMING
March 23: @ Purdue
March 25-27: (9) Virginia
9. Virginia
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 15-6, 4-2 in ACC (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Virginia’s first two ACC series have followed the same pattern, with the Cavs winning the first two games but failing to finish the sweep. Friday starter Connor Jones has yet to be scored upon in his first two conference starts, throwing a combined 15 1/3 shutout innings against Duke and Wake Forest.
RESULTS
March 15-16: Towson W 4-3, W 10-8
March 18-19: Wake Forest: W 4-0, W 6-4, L 9-8
UPCOMING
March 22: James Madison
March 25-27: @ (8) Louisville
10. Mississippi State
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 14-6-1, 2-1 in SEC (5-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-0
The Bulldogs had a bizarre week, plain and simple. Though it’ll go down as a losing week on paper, the wins against then-No. 5 Vanderbilt in Nashville speak louder. It’s the second consecutive strong weekend series win for Mississippi State, who dominated Oregon’s stingy pitching staff the weekend before.
RESULTS
March 15: Eastern Kentucky: L 16-12
March 16: Oral Roberts: L 3-1
March 18-20: @ (5) Vanderbilt: W 2-1 (13 innings), W 5-4, L 12-6
UPCOMING
March 22: Mississippi Valley State
March 24-26: Georgia
11. Vanderbilt
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 17-3, 1-2 in SEC (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
Mississippi State snapped Vanderbilt’s eight-game winning streak on Friday and went on to hand the Commodores their first series loss of the year, rallying from behind in the eighth inning to win Saturday. Jason Delay’s 3-for-4, 4 RBI day on Sunday led the ‘Dores in salvaging a game.
RESULTS
March 15: Northern Illinois: W 9-2
March 18-20: (15) Mississippi State: L 2-1 (13 innings), L 5-4, W 12-6
UPCOMING
March 22: @ Middle Tennessee State
March 25-27: @ Missouri
12. Florida State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 15-5, 5-1 in ACC (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
After a difficult midweek tilt against No. 1 Florida, the Seminoles exploded for a combined 27 runs in the first two games at Pittsburgh. Like they did the previous weekend at North Carolina, the Panthers were able to avoid getting swept in Sunday’s game on the strength of their pitching.
RESULTS
March 15: @ (1) Florida: L 6-0
March 18-20: @ Pittsburgh: W 17-4, W 10-2, L 5-2
UPCOMING
March 22-23: Central Florida
March 25-27: (21) North Carolina State
13. Louisiana State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 14-5, 1-2 in SEC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
LSU lost a home series to Alabama for the first time since 1996, getting swept in a Saturday doubleheader and needing to rally late just to salvage a win Sunday. On the bright side, freshman Antoine Duplantis ran his hitting streak to 19 straight games to open the season.
RESULTS
March 16: New Orleans: W 9-4
March 19-20: Alabama: L 6-0, L 4-3, W 7-5
UPCOMING
March 22: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette @ Metairie, La.
March 24-26: @ (2) Texas A&M
14. UCLA
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 11-7, 3-0 in Pac-12 (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
After a difficult start to the season, the Bruins have righted the ship and cruised through their Pac-12-opening series against Washington State. In more positive developments, junior righthander Grant Dyer rejoined the rotation Saturday, and freshman righthander Kyle Molnar threw the best game (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K) of his young career.
RESULTS
March 18-20: Washington State: W 5-2, W 6-5 (11 innings), W 11-2
UPCOMING
March 24-26: @ Arizona
15. California
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 11-6, 1-2 in Pac-12 (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-2-1
Golden Bears catcher Brett Cumberland homered in all three games and ace Daulton Jefferies improved to 5-0 in Thursday’s opener, but it wasn’t enough as Cal dropped two of three at USC. Life doesn’t get any easier with third-ranked Oregon State coming to Berkeley this weekend.
RESULTS
March 17-19: @ Southern California: W 5-4, L 18-5, L 5-4
UPCOMING
March 24-26: (3) Oregon State
16. Houston
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 13-6, 0-0 in AAC (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
The Cougars have found their groove, largely due to the return of lefthander Seth Romero from suspension. Romero and ace righthander Andrew Lantrip threw back-to-back complete games in Saturday’s doubleheader—allowing just three hits combined—in a prime example of how dominant Houston’s one-two punch can be.
RESULTS
March 15: @ Lamar: W 4-3
March 16: Texas Southern: W 7-1
March 19-20: Grand Canyon: W 5-0, W 3-1, W 5-1
UPCOMING
March 22: Rice
March 24-26: George Washington
17. Clemson
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 16-3, 5-1 in ACC (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
With a solid showing against Boston College, which started ACC play with a series win at North Carolina State, Clemson ran its winning streak to seven games. Freshman outfielder Seth Beer continued to impress, hitting a walk-off home run Sunday to complete the sweep. Now Clemson will face its biggest challenge to date with a road series at Miami on tap.
RESULTS
March 15-16: @ The Citadel: W 12-1, W 5-4
March: 18-20: Boston College: W 6-2, W 6-1, W 3-2 (10 innings)
UPCOMING
March 22: Presbyterian
March 25-27: @ (4) Miami
18. South Carolina
Last Week: 5-0
Overall: 20-2, 3-0 in SEC (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
South Carolina’s offense has battered pitchers all season long, and starting SEC play didn’t slow down its bats. The Gamecocks scored 24 runs in a sweep of Arkansas to improve to 18-0 at home this season. South Carolina will have to leave the friendly confines of Founders Park this weekend, as it heads to Mississippi for its toughest test yet.
RESULTS
March 15: vs. South Carolina-Upstate @ Greenville, S.C.: W 12-6
March 16: Davidson: W 15-2
March 18-20: (17) Arkansas: W 10-6, W 6-2, W 8-6
UPCOMING
March 24-26: @ (7) Mississippi
19. Oklahoma State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 13-7, 0-0 in Big 12 (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Oklahoma State ran its winning streak to seven games before falling to Michigan in Sunday’s series finale. Since starting the season 2-5, the Cowboys have gotten back on track and go into the start of Big 12 conference play this weekend looking like one of the stronger teams in the league.
RESULTS
March 14: Abilene Christian: W 8-4
March 15: @ Dallas Baptist: W 7-6
March 18-20: (22) Michigan: W 6-3, W 5-4, L 4-2
UPCOMING
March 22: @ Wichita State
March 24-26: @ Kansas State
20. Long Beach State
Last Week: 4-1
Overall: 14-6, 0-0 in Big West (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
Long Beach State’s formula of pitching, defense and timely hitting kept it rolling this week, as it won its fifth weekend series in a row to open the year. The Dirtbags will face Big West Conference rival Cal State Fullerton in a nonconference series this weekend, before conference play officially begins next week.
RESULTS
March 15: Loyola Marymount: W 6-4
March 17-20: Columbia: W 4-1, W 8-3, W 7-2, L 8-6
UPCOMING
March 24-26: @ Cal State Fullerton
21. North Carolina State
Last Week: 3-2
Overall: 16-6, 3-3 in ACC (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
After getting shutout twice last weekend by Boston College, North Carolina State’s offense bounced back against Notre Dame. The Wolfpack scored 29 runs, including 16 on Sunday, as they rallied to win the series. N.C. State now faces its first ACC road test, and it’s a stiff one, with a visit to Florida State on tap this weekend.
RESULTS
March 15-16: Indiana State: W 8-3, L 11-7
March 18-20: Notre Dame: W 9-1, L 8-4 (12 innings), W 16-6 (8 innings)
UPCOMING
March 22: @ UNC Wilmington
March 25-27: @ (12) Florida State
22. Alabama
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 13-6, 2-1 in SEC (3-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
After losing a home series to Houston last weekend, Alabama bounced back in a big way at Louisiana State. The Crimson Tide swept a doubleheader Saturday, beating Tigers’ star pitchers Alex Lange and Jared Poche’, to win their first series in Baton Rouge since 1996. Alabama will look to build on its solid start to SEC play as it hosts Tennessee this weekend.
RESULTS
March 15: @ Southern Mississippi: L 9-2
March 19-20: @ (7) Louisiana State: W 6-0, W 4-3, L 7-5
UPCOMING
March 22: vs. Alabama-Birmingham (@ Regions Field)
March 25-27: Tennessee
23. Michigan
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 12-5, 0-0 in the Big Ten (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
Road warriors all season, the Wolverines stumbled in their toughest weekend challenge to date, losing two of three at Oklahoma State. Behind starter Evan Hill, Michigan did manage to salvage the Sunday game, taking some momentum into its long-awaited home debut this week.
RESULTS
March 18-20: @ (22) Oklahoma State: L 6-3, L 5-4, W 4-2
UPCOMING
March 25-27: Illinois-Chicago
24. UC Santa Barbara
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 15-3, 0-0 in Big West (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
UC Santa Barbara swept Connecticut to extend its winning streak to six games and improve to 11-1 at home. Santa Barbara will hit the road this week, as it travels to Southern California this weekend for its final nonconference series before beginning Big West play.
RESULTS
March 18-20: Connecticut: W 5-3, W 9-6, W 6-2
UPCOMING
March 22: @ Cal State Bakersfield
March 24-26: @ Southern California
25. Arkansas
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 15-6, 0-3 in SEC (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
The Razorbacks simply ran into a buzz saw in Columbia against a hot South Carolina team. Arkansas, typically a strong pitching club, couldn’t contain the Gamecocks’ bats, starting with a rough outing by ace righthander Dominic Taccolini on Friday.
RESULTS
March 15-16: Grambling State W 14-4, W 3-2
March 18-20: @ South Carolina: L 10-6, L 6-2, L 8-6
UPCOMING
March 25-26: Auburn
DROPPED OUT
Louisiana-Lafayette
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 12-8, 3-3 in Sun Belt (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
Though returning the bulk of a team that made Super Regionals a year ago, the Ragin’ Cajuns have yet to get in a rhythm this season. A home series loss to 8-11 Arkansas-Little Rock drops them from the Top 25.
RESULTS
March 16: @ Northwestern State: W 10-1
March 19-20: Arkansas-Little Rock: W 15-4, L 10-5, L 7-1
UPCOMING
March 22: vs. (13) Louisiana State @ Metairie, La.
March 24-26: Georgia State
Oregon
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 9-7, 1-2 in Pac-12 (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2
After an 8-2 start to the season, the Ducks’ offensive woes have seemingly caught up to them. Hitting just .207 as a team, Oregon has now lost six of its last eight games despite having one of the better pitching staffs in the country.
RESULTS
March 18-20: Utah: L 4-1, W 9-5, L 2-0
UPCOMING
March 22: @ Seattle
March 24-26: @ Washington
College of Charleston
Last Week: 2-3
Overall: 13-7, 0-0 in CAA (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2
College of Charleston saw its eight-game winning streak snapped Tuesday at Furman, and it then dropped its first home series of the year to Virginia Commonwealth. The Cougars had been tough to beat in the first two games of Weekend Series this year thanks to their 1-2 punch of Nathan Helvey and Bailey Ober, but the Rams won both games against the Cougars’ aces. Charleston will look to bounce back as it begins its Colonial Athletic Association slate this weekend against Delaware.
RESULTS
March 15: @ Furman: L 9-7
March 16: Charleston Southern: W 4-1
March 18-20: Virginia Commonwealth: L 2-1, L 4-3, W 7-4
UPCOMING
March 22: Coastal Carolina
March 25-27: Delaware
Michigan State
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 14-3, 0-0 in Big Ten (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 0-1
After playing 14 different opponents in its first 14 games of the season, Michigan State traveled to South Florida to play its first proper series of the year. After winning Friday night, the Spartans dropped two tight games to the Bulls. Michigan State will finally get a chance to play at home this week, with its home opener set for Wednesday and the start of Big Ten Conference play Friday.
RESULTS
March 18-20: @ South Florida: W 11-1, L 2-0, L 7-5
UPCOMING
March 23: Central Michigan
March 25-27: Rutgers
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