This week, we have three teams at or near the 20-straight wins mark. St. Cloud State has started their season 20-0, albeit with a fairly weak schedule, while Colorado Mesa (19) and St. Mary's (17) are nearing the 20-straight win plateau. In addition to that, it is looking more and more like Tampa may not have the stranglehold on the #1 spot that they have had all season up to this point.
#1 Tampa (21-6) has not been their usual dominating themselves as of late, and are actually 7-5 in their last 12 games (8-5 since beating the Phillies!), putting them in a precarious position when this week's new rankings come out. This past weekend, they took on Palm Beach Atlantic in a three-game non-conference series and dropped the first game, 5-2, but took the next two, despite the final game going 13 innings and resulting in a 14-13 final score. This week, they take on Valdosta State in a non-conference game on Wednesday and host Eckerd for a three-game SSC set.
#2 Seton Hill (19-4) went 6-0 last week, including four games in which they scored in double digits and two games that looked like football scores (24-10 over Davis & Elkins, 23-10 over Pittsburgh-Johnstown). The schedule was certainly not tough for the week, but that will change this weekend when they take on Indiana (Pa.) in a four-game PSAC match-up.
#3 Colorado Mesa (24-2) is still rolling, pushing their winning streak to 19 straight with a four-game sweep of New Mexico Highlands over the weekend. They will look to pass the 20-game threshold this weekend with a four-game RMAC series at Adams State.
#4 Alabama-Huntsville (17-4-1) beat Tuskegee and Trevecca Nazarene to start last week, but then dropped two of three to an always-tough Delta State team in GSC action. It was not a banner week for the Chargers, but losing two of three with two close games to Delta State is nothing to be disappointed about. This week, they have a doubleheader with Lincoln Memorial, a three-game GSC series at a talented North Alabama squad, and then take on Miles in a three-game non-conference series next Monday and Tuesday.
#5 Franklin Pierce (19-1) took their first loss last Tuesday when they fell, 6-5, to Mount Olive, but rebounded with a 10-1 victory over the Trojans the next day. They then beat New Haven in a pair of games over the weekend. They'll face Southern New Hampshire this Wednesday for a single game, then face Saint Michael's in a three-game series this weekend.
#6 Nova Southeastern (24-4) swept Florida Southern in SSC play over the weekend, although they were all close games, then beat St. Thomas (Fla.) on Tuesday evening. The Sharks continue to be an impressive squad as we get deeper in to the schedule. They will get a huge test this weekend with a three-game conference series at Lynn.
#7 Mount Olive (21-9) had a tough week by their standards. The Trojans began the week with a solid win over #5 Franklin Pierce, but got clobbered by them the next day on UMO's home field. That was followed with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of King (Tenn.). UMO won the final game of that series, and then beat Catawba on Tuesday. They will look to keep that momentum going this weekend with a three-game series against Emmanuel.
#8 Minnesota State (13-1) has now won eight in a row after sweeping Mary in a four-game series to start NSIC play. The Mavericks look like the class of the conference, but will take on Saint Cloud State in a doubleheader next Tuesday. MSU had a series with Wisconsin-Parkside this week cancelled.
#9 St. Mary's (21-4) has been just as impressive as Colorado Mesa lately, and have now won 17 contests in a row after a three-game sweep of Oklahoma Panhandle State. Sitting at 9-0 in the Heartland Conference, the Rattlers will have a three-game set with Texas-Permian Basin this weekend.
#10 Angelo State (19-7) was part of our "Marquee Match-Up of the Week" last week, traveling to Texas A&M-Kingsville, but came out on the wrong end of the stick to the unranked Javelinas. TAMU-K dominated Angelo State in the first three games of the series, holding the Rams to one run in those three games. ASU came away with an 11-3 victory in the final game of the series, however. The Rams will look to get back on track this weekend with a four-game LSC set at Eastern New Mexico.
#11 Columbus State (17-10) took two of three at Lander over the weekend, dropping the final game of the weekend in extra innings. They are still looking to move up in the conference standings, but remain a dangerous team. This week, they face Lee on Wednesday before a huge three-game conference set with Flagler over the weekend.
#12 Cal Poly Pomona (19-7) took three of four against Chico State to remain one of the top teams in Division II so far. The Broncos will take on Cal State Dominguez Hills in a four-game CCAA series this weekend, with a great opportunity to push that record up.
#13 St. Cloud State (20-0) have yet to face a very quality opponent this year, but to their credit, they have won every game, as expected. They upper their perfect record with a four-game NSIC sweep of Upper Iowa over the weekend. They will face Augustana (S.D.) in a four-game series this weekend.
#14 Southern Indiana (5-9) may be falling out of the rankings this week. The struggling Screaming Eagles, after getting swept by Truman State in their first conference series of the year, followed that up with a split of a four-game series on the road against Missouri-St. Louis. They will have an opportunity this weekend to get back on track with a four-game series against St. Joseph's (Ind.).
#15 Saint Leo (24-6) dominated a good Eckerd squad over the weekend, sweeping them in a three-game series. However, the tables got turned in an 11-1 shelling at the hands of NAIA Embry-Riddle on Tuesday. They will have a chance to redeem themselves with a three-game set at Rollins this weekend.
#16 UC San Diego (19-8) took two of three from Cal State San Bernardino, with the lone loss coming in a 2-1 game. The Tritons, 15-4 in the CCAA, will head to Sonoma State for a four-game conference match-up this weekend.
#17 Emporia State (16-6) took three of four in MIAA action at Northeastern State, then beat Central Missouri in a non-conference match-up on Tuesday. The Hornets will welcome Southwest Baptist in to town for a four-game series this weekend.
#18 Florida Tech (24-4) have went 5-3 in their last eight games after an unbelievable start to the season, but still remain a regional contender. The Panthers swept Rollins in conference action over the weekend, but fell to Flagler in a non-conference game on Tuesday. They will get a good challenge with a three-game SSC series against Florida Southern this weekend.
#19 Flagler (23-4) has won five straight, beating Eckerd in a single game, sweeping NAIA Mount Vernon Nazarene in a doubleheader and taking down the aforementioned Florida Tech on Tuesday. Their biggest series of the year so far will take place this weekend when they face Columbus State in a three-game PBC series.
#20 Grand Valley State (10-7) continues to be an enigma, splitting four games against Ohio Dominican to open GLIAC play. The Lakers continue to mash the ball, led by an incredible performance from 2B Kevin Zak, who has been named GLIAC North Player of the Week for three straight weeks, but the pitching continues to be a roller coaster outside of the first two starters. They will continue GLIAC play this weekend with a four-game series against Saginaw Valley State.
#21 USC Aiken (19-10) may have played themselves out of the rankings after getting swept by North Georgia in a three-game series, including a 13-1 loss to finish out the weekend. They will face Montevallo this weekend in a three-game series.
#22 Erskine (25-3) swept Emmanuel in a Conference Carolinas three-game series over the weekend, but fell in a single-game contest to Lander. This week, the Flying Fleet will face Georgia College & State on Wednesday and face Pfeiffer in a three-game conference set.
#23 Mercyhurst (15-1) lost their first game of the year today, but were still impressive, sweeping Clarion in a four-game PSAC series over the weekend and splitting with Slippery Rock on Tuesday. They should continue to roll with four PSAC games against Gannon this weekend.
#24 Catawba (23-5) swept a three-game series with Anderson, but fell to Mount Olive in a Tuesday match-up. They will face Winston-Salem State in non-conference action on Wednesday, before heading to Coker for a three-game series this weekend.
#25 Southern Arkansas (19-11) dropped two of three to Henderson State over the weekend, both losses coming in extra innings. They will face Henderson State in a non-conference contest this week before facing Harding in a three-game GAC series this weekend.
Lynn (23-6) should find their way in to the rankings this week after taking two of three from Barry over the weekend and beating Florida Memorial on Tuesday. They will have a huge opportunity to make a big impression this weekend with a three-game series against Nova Southeastern.
Colorado State-Pueblo (21-3) is looking more and more like a very worthy competitor to Mesa for RMAC supremacy. The Thunderwolves are on an 11-game winning streak after sweeping Metro State over the weekend. That was after CSU-P swept Adams State and took three of four from New Mexico Highlands in the weekend prior. They will look to keep rolling this weekend with four at Colorado Christian.
Armstrong State (23-5) is another team that may find themselves in the rankings this week, having beat Claflin, sweeping Georgia Regents over the weekend, and then beating USC Beaufort. They will head to North Georgia for a three-game series this weekend.
Washburn (18-5) is still hanging around, despite going 2-3 over the week. They lost to Newman, then split a four-game series with Missouri Western. This week, they take on Truman State in a non-conference game and then face off with Lindenwood in four MIAA games.
Speaking of Truman State (13-4), the Bulldogs split a four-game GLVC series with McKendree. They will have that contest against Washburn this Thursday and then face William Jewell in a four-game series with a great opportunity to push that record up.
Winston-Salem State (22-7) is a team we haven't mentioned yet this season, but they had recently put together a seven-game winning streak before falling to Lenoir-Rhyne in a non-conference contest on Tuesday, a game in which they gave up five runs in the top of the ninth to lose 14-11. They will have another stiff test against Catawba on Wednesday before taking on Virginia State in a four-game CIAA set this weekend.
Millersville (18-6) took three of four from East Stroudsburg over the weekend and then swept Chestnut Hill in a doubleheader on Tuesday. They will face Lock Haven in a four-game PSAC series this weekend.
St. Edward's (21-8) took two of three from Rogers State and then beat that impressive Texas A&M-Kingsville team in non-conference action on Tuesday. The Hilltoppers have been just outside the rankings recently, and will face Lubbock Christian in a three-game Heartland set this weekend.
UNC Pembroke (21-7) is still mashing the ball despite slowing down from their hot start to the season. Hitting .350 as a team, the Braves swept a three-game series from Georgia Southwestern over the weekend and then beat Coker on Tuesday. They will face Young Harris three times this weekend.
Wingate (21-9) is hanging around in the SAC, having won two of three from Mars Hill over the weekend. The Bulldogs also beat Belmont Abbey in a non-conference game already this week. There are only three weeks left to play already in the conference, and that will continue this weekend with three games against Newberry at home.
North Alabama (19-5) has won nine of its last 10 games, and shut out Union in a doubleheader to finish out the weekend. The Lions face Spring Hill for a doubleheader on Wednesday before a big series with Alabama-Huntsville this weekend.
Shepherd (14-2) has won 11 in a row after a four-game sweep of Charleston over the weekend. They will face West Virginia Wesleyan in a mid-week doubleheader and then take on Wheeling Jesuit in a four-game series this weekend.
Point Loma (20-7) is riding a seven-game winning streak after sweeping Academy of Art in a four-game weekend series. Sitting at 8-4 in the PacWest, they will face Hawaii Hilo for four games this weekend.
Azusa Pacific (20-8) is one of the challengers for said PacWest title. APU took three of four game Hawaii Hilo over the weekend and will face Hawaii Pacific in four games this weekend.
Missouri Southern (19-4) is another team hanging right around the rankings, although they are 3-3 in their last six games after splitting with Central Missouri last weekend and then splitting with Pittsburg State on Tuesday. They are 10-2 in the MIAA, and have a big match-up this weekend with another team right in the rankings mix, Missouri Western.
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