Top 25 Tracker: March 28
1. Texas A&M
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 21-3, 4-2 in SEC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0
A week after getting hit hard by Auburn, A&M’s pitching returned to form, holding LSU to just five total runs over three games. Friday’s loss broke the Aggies’ 19-game home winning streak, but they rebounded Saturday behind a strong start from Kyle Simonds and a go-ahead home run from Nick Banks. All this leads into a banner week, with a midweek trip to No. 15 Houston and then a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown with Florida.
RESULTS
March 22: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: W 13-3 (7 innings)
March 24-26: (13) Louisiana State: W 6-1, L 3-2, W 3-1
UPCOMING
March 29: @ (15) Houston
April 1-3: @ (2) Florida
2. Florida
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 23-3, 4-2 in SEC (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
The Florida juggernaut slowed down for at least a couple days, dropping a series at Kentucky. Logan Shore won his 10th straight decision in the Friday game, but Kentucky knocked around A.J. Puk on Saturday—snapping UF’s 17-game winning streak, one short of the school record—and outlasted the Gators in extras on Sunday.
RESULTS
March 22: Florida Atlantic: W 2-1
March 25-27: @ Kentucky: W 12-5, L 7-4, L 5-4 (10 innings)
UPCOMING
March 29: vs. (12) Florida State @ Jacksonville, Fla.
April 1-3: (1) Texas A&M
3. Miami
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 20-4, 7-2 in ACC (6-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
If you’re going to beat Miami, you’d best do it early. Willie Abreu hit a walk-off home run for the second Friday in a row to win the opener against Clemson, and Edgar Michelangeli’s walk-off single won Saturday’s extra-inning game. The Canes have gone 15-2 since their Week 2 series loss to Florida, now with back-to-back series wins against ranked teams Louisville and Clemson.
RESULTS
March 23: Bethune Cookman: W 5-4
March 25-27: (17) Clemson: W 9-8, W 5-4 (11 innings), W 10-5
UPCOMING
March 30: @ (25) Florida Atlantic
April 1-3: (9) North Carolina
4. Louisville
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 19-5, 6-3 in ACC (4-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
After losing two tough road series to Ole Miss and Miami, Louisville finally got to face a marquee opponent at home and took advantage, winning two of three against Virginia. Brendan McKay homered and threw eight strong innings on the mound Saturday, while the offense’s 15 runs Sunday were its most in an ACC game since joining the league.
RESULTS
March 23: @ Purdue: W 9-4
March 25-27: (9) Virginia: L 6-3, W 11-4, W 15-0
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Western Kentucky
April 2-3: Virginia Tech
5. Mississippi State
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 17-7-1, 4-2 in SEC (5-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-0
Mississippi State built on its series win at Vanderbilt by taking care of Georgia in the battle of the Bulldogs—and didn’t get caught looking ahead to its rivalry series with Ole Miss. MSU won Friday’s game despite being no-hit for six innings by Georgia ace Robert Tyler, who came out after running up a high pitch count. With Tyler gone, MSU scored twice in the seventh and once in the eighth to steal the win.
RESULTS
March 22: Mississippi Valley State: W 16-1
March 24-26: Georgia: W 9-2, W 3-1, L 11-8
UPCOMING
March 29: vs. Southern Mississippi @ Pearl, Miss.
April 1-3: (13) Mississippi
6. Vanderbilt
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 20-4, 4-2 in SEC (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
The Commodores rebounded at Missouri after losing a series at home to Mississippi State the weekend before. Vanderbilt rallied late in both of the first two games before exploding in Sunday’s finale behind outfielder Bryan Reynolds’ two home runs.
RESULTS
March 22: @ Middle Tennessee State: L 7-4
March 25-27: @ Missouri: W 8-6, W 2-0 (11 innings), W 17-7
UPCOMING
March 29: Belmont
March 31: (7) South Carolina
7. South Carolina
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 23-2, 6-0 in SEC (6-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
A rivalry series loss to Clemson has been the Gamecocks’ only blemish on the season thus far. South Carolina has gone on an absolute tear since. The Gamecocks have swept their first two SEC series, including an impressive sweep at Mississippi—a team that had only lost twice before the weekend.
RESULTS
March 24-26: @ (13) Mississippi: W 5-1, W 9-5, W 4-0
UPCOMING
March 29: College of Charleston
March 31-April 2: @ (6) Vanderbilt
8. Texas Christian
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 18-5, 4-2 in Big 12 (2-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
TCU lost a series to Texas for the first since it joined the Big 12 in 2013. The Frogs had a couple games to forget, committing four errors Thursday and getting shut out on Friday, before fighting back Saturday, salvaging the finale behind three-hit games from Luken Baker and Elliott Barzilli.
RESULTS
March 22: Abilene Christian: W 6-4
March 24-26: @ Texas: L 4-3, L 2-0, W 9-5
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Texas-Arlington
April 1-3: @ Wichita State
9. North Carolina
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 19-4, 6-3 in ACC (5-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
This week’s theme of teams hitting their first bumps in the road continues with the Tar Heels, who dropped two of three at home to Georgia Tech for their first series loss of the year. J.B. Bukauskas (8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K) turned in the best start of his career in Friday’s win, but the offense ran dry in the other two games.
RESULTS
March 22: Western Carolina: W 10-2
March 24-26: Georgia Tech: L 3-2, W 8-0, L 6-0
UPCOMING
March 29: Davidson
April 1-3: @ (3) Miami
10. California
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 14-6, 4-2 in Pac-12 (3-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2-1
Facing their toughest competition of the season so far, the Golden Bears played their best baseball, sweeping a deep Oregon State team. Ace righthander Daulton Jefferies set the tone with a complete-game masterpiece in the opener, and the other Cal arms followed suit.
RESULTS
March 24-26: (11) Oregon State: W 6-2, W 5-0, W 5-3
UPCOMING
March 29: San Francisco
April 1-3: UCLA
11. Oregon State
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 16-5, 3-3 in Pac-12 (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-1
After breezing through the first five weeks, Oregon State’s momentum was suddenly stopped cold in Berkeley. Two of their three starters—Drew Rasmussen on Friday and Travis Eckert on Sunday—failed to last even four innings, while the offense managed just four hits in Saturday’s shutout loss.
RESULTS
March 22: @ Portland: W 13-6
March 24-26: @ (15) California: L 6-2, L 5-0, L 5-3
UPCOMING
March 28-29: San Diego State
April 1-3: Washington
12. Florida State
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 18-5, 6-1 in ACC (4-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0
Rain got in the way for FSU, canceling the final two games of its home series against the Wolfpack. But the Seminoles took care of business in the games they did manage to get in, riding a six-run first inning to take their one and only game against N.C. State.
RESULTS
March 22-23: Central Florida: W 7-2, W 5-4 (11 innings)
March 25-27: North Carolina State: W 8-5, CCD, CCD
UPCOMING
March 29: vs. (2) Florida @ Jacksonville, Fla.
April 1-3: @ Boston College
13. Mississippi
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 20-5, 2-4 in SEC (3-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
Ole Miss was swept at home in a Weekend Series for the first time in three years as South Carolina came into Oxford and outscored the Rebels 18-6. The Rebels only led for two innings all weekend, and now they’ll have to try to right the ship in time for this weekend’s trip to Starkville to face rival Mississippi State.
RESULTS
March 22: Tennessee-Martin: W 8-2
March 24-26: (18) South Carolina: L 5-1, L 9-5, L 4-0
UPCOMING
March: 30: @ Memphis (AutoZone Park)
April 1-3: @ (5) Mississippi State
14. Virginia
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 17-8, 5-4 in ACC (1-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2
Matching three-run homers by Matt Thaiss and Pavin Smith powered Virginia to a win in the series opener at Louisville, but the wheels came off from there as the Cavs were outscored 26-4 over the next two days. With their lopsided loss in the rubber match, the Cavs fell to 1-5 in Sunday games (or third games of series).
RESULTS
March 22: James Madison: W 15-6
March 25-27: @ (8) Louisville: W 6-3, L 11-4, L 15-0
UPCOMING
March 29: Old Dominion
April 1-3: North Carolina State
15. Houston
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 16-7, 0-0 in AAC (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
The Cougars have found their groove after an early season rough patch. Once again, starting pitching was at the forefront, as all three starters lasted at least 7 1/3 and allowed two earned runs or fewer. The Cougars will open conference play at East Carolina this weekend.
RESULTS
March 22: Rice: L 7-4
March 24-26: George Washington: W 5-0, W 5-2, W 14-0
UPCOMING
March 29: (1) Texas A&M
April 1-3: @ East Carolina
16. Oklahoma State
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 17-7, 3-0 in Big 12 (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
How do you respond to a 2-5 start to the season? In the Cowboys’ case, you win 15 of your next 17. After taking a Top 25 series against Michigan the weekend before, Oklahoma State continued to roll into Big 12 play, sweeping Kansas State on the road and staving off a late rally Saturday to win in extras.
RESULTS
March 22: @ Wichita State: W 17-0
March 24-26: @ Kansas State: W 2-1, W 5-4, W 5-4 (10 innings)
UPCOMING
March 29: (22) Arkansas
April 1-3: @ West Virginia
17. Long Beach State
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 16-7, 0-0 in Big West (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 6-0
Relying on a stout pitching staff—particularly the bullpen—and some timely hitting, the Dirtbags have now won all six Weekend Series to the start the season, with Big West rival Cal State Fullerton the latest victim. Though it didn’t count toward the Big West standings, the series is further proof the Dirtbags could be the team to beat in the conference.
RESULTS
March 24-26: @ Cal State Fullerton: W 5-4 (12 innings), L 4-2, W 5-4
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Fresno State
April 1-3: (18) UC Santa Barbara
18. UC Santa Barbara
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 18-4, 0-0 in Big West (3-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
UC Santa Barbara saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end Saturday at Southern California, but not before it secured its fifth winning weekend of the spring. The Gauchos will dive into Big West Conference play this weekend with a series at Long Beach State.
RESULTS
March 22: @ Cal State Bakersfield: W 10-1
March 24-26: vs./vs./@ Southern California: W 10-1, W 5-2, L 9-5
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Pepperdine
April 1-3: @ (17) Long Beach State
19. Louisiana State
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 16-7, 2-4 in SEC (1-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-2
After dropping its SEC-opening series to Alabama, the Tigers went on to lose two of three to then-No. 2 Texas A&M as the young LSU offense continues to try to find itself. The Tigers’ lone saving grace was righthander Alex Lange, who threw a gem in Saturday’s win.
RESULTS
March 22: vs. Louisiana-Lafayette @ Metraine, La.: W 8-5
March 24-26: @ (1) Texas A&M: L 6-1, W 3-2, L 3-1
UPCOMING
March 29: Tulane
April 1-3: @ Auburn
20. Michigan
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 16-5, 0-0 in Big Ten (2-2 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-1
After playing their first 17 games away from home, the Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor for their home opener this weekend. Michigan swept Illinois-Chicago to extend its winning streak to five games with the start of Big Ten Conference play coming Friday.
RESULTS
March 25-27: Illinois-Chicago: W 10-2, W 5-0, W 10-4 W 5-4
UPCOMING
March 29: Central Michigan
April 1-3: @ Northwestern
21. Alabama
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 15-8, 4-2 in SEC (3-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
Alabama won its second straight series to open SEC play, a result that has them tied with Mississippi State and Texas A&M for first place in the SEC West. The Crimson Tide’s pitching has done its job so far, posting a 2.89 ERA in conference play.
RESULTS
March 22: vs. Alabama-Birmingham (Regions Field): L 8-0
March 25-26: Tennessee: W 7-3, W 11-3, L 6-3
UPCOMING
March 29: vs. Auburn @ Montgomery, Ala.
March 31-April 2: @ Georgia
22. Arkansas
Last Week: 3-0
Overall: 18-6, 3-3 in SEC (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
After getting swept at South Carolina Last Weekend, Arkansas bounced back at home against Auburn. The Razorbacks swept the series, thanks to an Overall solid weekend from their pitching staff. Arkansas will need more good pitching this week with Missouri’s powerful rotation coming to town.
RESULTS
March 25-27: Auburn: W 3-2, W 14-7, W 3-1
UPCOMING
March 29: @ (16) Oklahoma State
April 1-3: Missouri
23. Georgia Tech
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 18-5, 5-4 in ACC (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-1
Since getting swept at Florida State on the first weekend of ACC play, Georgia Tech has responded by sweeping Virginia Tech and winning a series at North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets showed the depth of their new-look pitching staff against the Tar Heels, as they went without Jonathan Hughes, their normal No. 3 starter, because the series was a Thursday-Saturday affair.
RESULTS
March 22: @ Kennesaw State: W 13-2
March 24-26: @ (6) North Carolina: W 3-2, L 8-0, W 6-0
UPCOMING
March 30: Georgia Southern
April 1-3: Duke
24. Kentucky
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 17-6, 4-2 in SEC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 4-0
Kentucky scored an extra-innings, comeback victory Sunday against Florida to clinch a huge series win. The Wildcats have now beaten the top-ranked team in the country in each of the last three seasons. Kentucky goes into Tennessee this weekend looking for its third-straight SEC series win, something it hasn’t done since 2012.
RESULTS
March 22: Morehead State: W 10-5
March 25-27: (1) Florida: L 12-3, W 7-4, W 5-4 (10 innings)
UPCOMING
March 29: Northern Kentucky
March 30: Xavier
April 1-3: @ Tennessee
25. Florida Atlantic
Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 18-4, 5-1 in CUSA (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-0
After a midweek loss to Florida, Florida Atlantic continued to roll on weekends, sweeping Alabama-Birmingham for its sixth-straight winning weekend to open the year. The Owls have been tough at home, where they’re 12-2, but will face a tough road test this weekend with a trip to Old Dominion.
RESULTS
March 22: @ (1) Florida: L 2-1
March 25-26: Alabama-Birmingham: W 5-3, W 7-3, W 5-0
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Florida Gulf Coast
March 30: (3) Miami
April 1-3: @ Old Dominion
DROPPED OUT
UCLA
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 12-9, 4-2 in Pac-12 (1-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 3-2
Thinned by the draft and injury, the Bruins have yet to find any sort of rhythm this season—outside of a strong showing in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic. A series loss at Arizona dropped UCLA to just 12-9 Overall. A difficult week against Cal State Fullerton and California awaits.
RESULTS
March 24-26: @ Arizona: L 6-1, W 4-3, L 6-5
UPCOMING
March 29: Cal State Fullerton
April 1-3: @ (10) California
Clemson
Last Week: 1-3
Overall: 17-6, 5-4 in ACC (0-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 5-1
The Tigers were rocked by the Hurricanes in their weekend trip to Coral Gables, as Miami walked them off twice before blowing past the Tigers, 10-5, on Sunday. Clemson will have the chance to rebound when it hosts Pittsburgh this weekend.
RESULTS
March 22: Presbyterian: W 8-4
March 25-27: @ (4) Miami: L 9-8, L 5-4 (11 innings), L 10-5
UPCOMING
March 29: vs. Furman @ Greenville, S.C.
March 30: @ Western Carolina
April 1-3: Pittsburgh
North Carolina State
Last Week: 0-2
Overall: 16-8, 3-4 in ACC (1-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 2-2
A storm in Tallahassee, Fla., washed out the last two games of North Carolina State’s series at Florida State. But before the rain came, the Wolfpack lost Friday night, their second loss of the week and fourth loss in six Weekend Series openers this season. NC State has another tough assignment this weekend, with a trip to Virginia on tap.
RESULTS
March 22: @ UNC-Wilmington L 6-4
March 25-27: @ (12) Florida State: L 8-5, CCD, CCD
UPCOMING
March 29: @ Charlotte (BB&T Ballpark)
April 1-3: @ (14) Virginia
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