By: Aaron Kirby
Week 5 was not kind to the teams in the top 25 as only 10 of the 25 teams had winning records this past week.
#1 Fresno St (14-2) held on to the top spot this week after sweeping 3 games from Washington St.
#2 TCU (12-7) also stays put after a 2-2 week. After dropping a mid week game to UT-Arlington, TCU took 2 of 3 at UNLV to open MWC play.
Texas St (15-4) moved up 2 spots to #3 after a 3-1 week. Texas St dropped a mid week game to Texas but swept a solid Sam Houston St club in Southland play. Texas St has been one of the most impressive clubs so far this year.
Elon (15-6) continues its strong start and moves up 4 spots to #4 after a 3-1 week. Elon lost to ECU 4-3 in 10 innings mid week before traveling to former #24 WCU and swept Western to move to 6-0 in the SOCON.
Stetson (16-4) also continued its strong start to 2011 and moves up 4 spots to #5 after a 4-1 week. The Haters split 2 mid week games with Siena before sweeping Mercer in A-Sun play.
Troy (16-4) enters the top 10 moving up 6 spots to #6 winning 2 of 3 from South Alabama in Sunbelt play.
Allowing those clubs to move up in the rankings were 4 clubs in last weeks top 6 who each had weeks they would like to forget. College of Charleston(15-6) picked up a nice mid week win over Jacksonville but after that it was a rough Cougar Invitational for the hosts. CofC drops 4 spots to #7 after going 0-3 in their tourney, losing to Southern Miss, UCONN and Rhode Island on Sunday. Louisville (12-7) dropped 2 mid week games out west to USC and must have been suffering from jet lag this weekend losing 2 of 3 at home to Xavier. The Cardinal dropped 4 spots to #8. This Louisville club is hard to figure out. They have dropped home series to Toledo and Xavier but have also swept Pepperdine at Pepperdine and swept Kent St at home. Speaking of Pepperdine the next club would like to forget them. Coastal Carolina (13-8) went out west to also. The week started good with 2 wins over San Diego before a weekend series at Pepperdine. Coastal dropped the first 2 games each by a 2-1 score before dropping the final game on Saturday (moved up from Sunday) 7-1. Coastal drops 4 spots to #10 after the 2-3 week.
Not sure how to explain the week Wichita St (13-6) had. The Shockers sweep a 2 game mid week series from Arizona but then drop a home series to Penn St? Penn St scored 5 runs in the top 11th today to win 9-4 and take the series. However Wichita St moves up 1 spot to #9.
SE Louisiana (13-7) drops 5 spots to #12 after 1-3 week. SE Louisiana dropped a mid week game to instate rival Tulane 7-3 before dropping the first 2 games to McNeese St this weekend. The Lions snapped their 3 game slide salvaging 1 game this weekend winning on Sunday.
FAU (13-8) moved up 1 spot to #14 after winning 2 of 3 from instate Sunbelt rival FIU. FIU(13-8) dropped 2 spots to #16.
Cal St Bakersfield (16-5) continues to win and continues to climb in the poll. With a 4 game sweep of Lafayette the Roadrunners move up 4 spots to #15.
Georgia Southern (12-9) had a rough week going 1-4, but vs some solid clubs, dropping 6 spots to #23. GSU dropped 2 mid week games at Georgia Tech before traveling to Birmingham, Al to take on Samford in SOCON action. Leading 4-1 and cruising for most of Fridays opener a 8th inning grand slam by Samford gave the Bulldogs the 5-4 lead and the win. Samford won game 2 Saturday and Southern took Sundays game 9-2 to salvage one game.
The 4 clubs ranked #22-25 all had rough weeks and dropped out of the top 25.
#22 Purdue (13-6) went 2-3 this week, dropping mid week games at Vandy, at Belmont before taking 2 of 3 at Tenn Tech. #23 Louisiana (11-7) has had a tough couple weeks. Last went 0-4 before going 2-2 this week including dropping a home series to Louisiana-Monroe and dropping out of the rankings. #24 Western Carolina (8-10) continues to spiral down going 1-4 this week. After picking up a good win mid week at Kennesaw St the Catamounts dropped a home game to UNCA who had lost 10 games in a row. #4 Elon came to town for a big SOCON series. WCU dropped 1 run games on Friday and Saturday before Elon finished the sweep Sunday by a 9-6 score and dropping WCU to 0-6 in SOCON and now has lost 7 of 8 games. #25 Sam Houston St(12-8) also had a rough week going 0-4 dropping a mid week game at Houston before being swept at #3 Texas St.
There were 4 clubs who did not have bad weeks and headed in the other direction.
Samford (15-7) enters the poll at #19 after a 4-1 week. Samford won 2 mid week games from UAB before taking 2 of 3 at home vs Georgia Southern. Samford is going to be tough to beat on Friday and Saturday with 2 legit starters Kyle Putkonen (4-1, 2.02, 35.2 innings, 30 H, 35 K) and lefty Lex Rutledge (3-1, 3.04, 23.2 innings, 15 H, 32 K) and team ERA of 2.63.
Georgia St (18-4) finally breaks in the poll at #21 after a 5-0 week with wins over Alabama St, Harvard and sweeping Murray St. Western Kentucky (13-6) is back in the poll at #22 after another solid week going 4-0 with mid week win at Belmont and sweeping their Sunbelt series with MTSU.
The 4th team to enter the rankings this week is UT-Arlington (12-8) at #24 after a 4-1 week. UTA has been picking up good wins all year but has been a little inconsitent. After getting swept by Houston to start the year UTA has picked up 2 wins Wichita St and 2 vs Dallas Baptist. Last week the Mavericks took 2 of 3 vs Sam Houston St before picking up another big win this week over TCU 3-2 on Tuesday and another over Louisiana Tech on Wednesday before win SLC series 2-1 vs UTSA.
| “Mid-Major Major 25” | 2011 WEEK #6 | ||||
| SCHOOL | (REC) | PVS | (WK) | WEEK 5 RESULTS-3/14-3/20 | |
| #1 | Fresno St | (14-2) | #1 | (3-0) | Wash St; Wash St; Wash St; |
| #2 | TCU | (12-7) | #2 | (2-2) | 0-1 UTA; 2-1 at UNLV; |
| #3 | Texas St | (15-4) | #5 | (3-1) | 0-1 at Texas; 3-0 Sam Houston; |
| #4 | Elon | (15-6) | #8 | (3-1) | 0-1 ECU; 3-0 at WCU; |
| #5 | Stetson | (16-4) | #9 | (4-1) | 1-1 Siena; 3-0 Mercer; |
| #6 | Troy | (16-4) | #12 | (3-1) | 1-0 Florida A&M; 2-1 South Alabama; |
| #7 | College of Charleston | (15-6) | #3 | (1-3) | 1-0 Jacksonville; 0-1 S. Miss; 0-1 UCONN; 0-1 Rhode Island |
| #8 | Louisville | (12-7) | #4 | (1-4) | 0-2 at USC; 1-2 Xavier; |
| #9 | Wichita St | (13-6) | #10 | (3-2) | 2-0 Arizona; 1-2 Penn St; |
| #10 | Coastal Carolina | (13-8) | #6 | (2-3) | 2-0 at San Diego; 0-3 at Pepperdine; |
| #11 | Pittsburgh | (12-5) | #11 | (4-2) | 0-1 Indiana; 0-1 Kent St; 2-0 Niagra;1-0 Yougstown St;1-0Toledo |
| #12 | SE Louisiana | (13-7) | #7 | (1-3) | 0-1 at Tulane; 1-2 McNeese St |
| #13 | Charlotte | (15-5) | #13 | (3-2) | Wake Forest; at Duke; Harvard; Harvard; Harvard |
| #14 | Florida Atlantic | (13-8) | #15 | (2-2) | 0-1 at Miami FL; 2-1 Florida International; |
| #15 | Cal St Bakersfield | (16-5) | #19 | (4-0) | Lafayette; Lafayette; Lafayette; Lafayette; |
| #16 | Florida International | (13-8) | #14 | (1-3) | 0-1 at Baylor; 1-2 at Florida Atlantic; |
| #17 | San Jose St | (14-6) | #16 | (2-2) | 0-1 USF; 2-1 at Seattle; |
| #18 | Creighton | (15-4) | #20 | (3-1) | 1-1 at Air Force; 1-0 Valpo; 1-0 Southern Illinios Edwardsville |
| #19 | Samford | (15-7) | NR | (4-1) | 2-0 UAB; at UAB; 2-1 Georgia Southern; |
| #20 | UNLV | (17-6) | #18 | (1-3) | 0-1 at Northridge; 1-2 TCU; |
| #21 | Georgia State | (18-4) | NR | (5-0) | 1-0 Alabama St; 1-0 Harvard; 3-0 Murray St; |
| #22 | Western Kentucky | (13-6) | NR | (4-0) | 1-0 at Belmont; 3-0 MTSU; |
| #23 | Georgia Southern | (12-9) | #17 | (1-4) | 0-2 at Georgia Tech; 1-2 at Samford; |
| #24 | UT-Arlington | (12-8) | NR | (4-1) | 1-0 TCU; 1-0 Louisiana Tech; 2-1 UTSA; |
| #25 | ETSU | (12-4) | #21 | (2-2) | 1-0 at Tenn Tech; 1-2 Jacksonville |
| Dropped Out | |||||
| #22 | Purdue | (13-6) | (2-3) | 0-1 at Vanderbilt; 0-1 at Belmont; 2-1 at Tenn Tech; | |
| #23 | Louisiana | (11-7) | (2-2) | 1-0 Alcorn St; 1-2 Louisiana-Monroe; | |
| #24 | Western Carolina | (8-10) | (1-4) | 1-0 at Kennesaw St; 0-1 UNCA; 0-3 Elon | |
| #25 | Sam Houston St | (12-8) | (0-4) | 0-1 at Houston; 0-3 at Texas St; | |
| Bubble Boys | |||||
| James Madison | (15-5) | (2-2) | 0-1 at Virginia; 2-1 at VCU; | ||
| Texas A&M CC | (15-8) | (4-1) | 1-0 Iowa; 0-1 at Texas Tech; 3-0 at Nicholls St; | ||
| Dallas Baptist | (12-7) | (2-1) | 1-0 at Rice; 1-1 Binghamton; | ||
| Jacksonsville | (13-7) | (2-2) | 0-1 at C of Charleston; 2-1 at ETSU; | ||
| Stony Brook | (10-5) | (3-1) | 1-0 Iona; 1-0 New Jersey Tech; 0-1 at Seton Hall; 1-0 Fordham |
15 comments
Not sure anyone has anything to grip about this week. Lets here it if anyone does not agree with something.
What does a 15 – 3 Southern Miss team have to do to get ranked. Thay just beat the 3rd ranked team in the nation while posting a decent record themselves. Just being considered as a abubble team would be some sort of consolation.
Southern Miss is in CUSA and CUSA is not considered a “mid-major” in college baseball. CUSA is a top 6 conference. The top 6 are SEC, ACC, Pac 10, Big 12, Big West and CUSA.
How about Marist College? The Red Foxes have a 14-3 record, 11 game winning streak and have the on of the best winning percentages in the country.
I actually put Marist on the list today. But im glad you said something because i have them with a 17-3 record? Warren Nolan has them at 17-3 but D1baseball.com has them at 14-3 so i went to their website and its 14-3 like you said…..thanksn
How does Jacksonville sweep Samford in a 4 game series and end up behind them in the polls? Just asking? 3 of JU’s 7 losses have been to CofC and FSU. 4 of Samfords 7 have been to JU. Just saying – A young JU team is turning heads and should be in consideration. ETSU is 25th and JU just beat them 2 of 3 this past weekend. Your Bubble list is Suspect if JU is still on Buble list and those other guys are above them. Projections are for the MLB scouts – The here and now is for the Poll system!!!
Yes i realize that Jacksonville swept Samford but that was 3 weeks ago not this week. Jacksonville went 2-2 this week that is why they did not get in this week. Samford went 4-1 with 2 wins vs a decent UAB team and won series vs Georgia Southern. To get in you need to have a good week and i can not see any circumstance of a team entering the rankings if they play .500 that week. nnSame reason Mercer was not in it last week either as they went 2-2 2 weeks ago.
2 words – “Higher RPI”nnETSU has an RPI that ranks them in top 5 nationally and we beat them. What is Georgia Southerns RPI – Who actually beat the better opponent? just saying………….. And two weaks ago when Jacksonville swept Samford – They were a bubble team – just saying………. What does a 4 game sweep over whomever mean then – Now or Later – if it doesn’t get you in the polls at that time?
Please dont quote the RPI right now. You were making a very good argument why Jacksonville should be ranked ahead of Samford but RPI does not mean much right now.
I know RPI is not much of a gauge right now but I find the SOS to be helpful when teams say look, we have similar records so why aren’t we ranked when X university is. And doesn’t that all play into RPI for later in the season? If you are playing the “tougher” teams (per the good old boys of college baseball) you are going to be looked at before other teams who take the easier path to garnering OOC wins.n(Kind of contradictory though if you look at some of those “traditional powers” OOCs)
FYI- Penn State is currently 12-6 against good opponents. They also have an exhibition win against a Korean professional team that doesn’t count in the standings. Out of there 6 losses, they were only out of the first game at wichita state…they could be 17-1 with a few breaks. Fact is they have a good young team that will surprise some opponents this year and for the next few years.
I will definetly put them on the list. Thanks
Need some consideration for SFA, 6-1 in same conference with TxSt, SHSU and SEL
Yes Stephen F Austin is on the bubble list. There are a bunch of pretty darn good Southland Clubs.nnIve got Texas St, SE Louisiana, Lamar, Sam Houston, SFA, and Texas A&M CC ive been keeping track of. n nLamar beat Texas St today 7-6 so with SFA beating Nicholls St 10-7 it puts them in tie with Texas St. SE Louisiana lost today so it drops them 2 back now in 4th i think.
TXST RPI is 12, SOS is #17 in the nation. Where does SFA fall? Let me see, oh, right, RPI 153, SOS 268. You get looks when you start playing somebody…and winning against those somebody’s. The NCAA guys and poll voters don’t just look at the conference records, however, TXST lost to Lamar (17-9, 6-2), SFA lost to Nicholls State (8-13, 1-7). See the difference?nLet the conference series play out before you advocate for SFA to be considered.
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