After a number of surprises and upsets, this week’s edition of the college baseball rankings has a ton of movement. That includes a new number one team and a couple of additions to the top ten. Now that we are a couple of weeks into conference play, the identities of these teams are starting to shape up. There isn’t a question that this week was tougher to rank than previous ones. Without further ado let’s dive into the top 25.
Be sure to catch up on the previous rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
1. Tennessee (23-1, 6-0)
The Vols are on fire, as they swept Ole Miss to increase their winning streak to 15 games. They crushed Ole Miss in the first two games, 12-1 and 10-3, before holding on for a 4-3 victory in the finale. They hit five homers in the first game to put their nation-leading total at 64 bombs. Freshman Chase Burns struck out 11 Rebel bats over seven innings while allowing just one run on two hits in Friday’s game. Chase Dollander then struck out 10 over 6 1/3 shutout innings on Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 5
2. Arkansas (18-4, 5-1)
Arkansas took two out of three from Missouri in their only games this week. Third baseman Cayden Wallace went 5-for-12 in the series, including 3-for-5 on Friday. The Hogs haven’t lost a series since 2019. Sophomore Jaxon Wiggins struck out eight over 7 1/3 innings in the series clincher on Sunday.
Previous Ranking: 1
3. Virginia (22-2, 7-2)
The Cavaliers are well outperforming their expectations this season and are coming off another big ACC series win over Wake Forest. They weren’t able to complete the sweep on Sunday, but have still won eight of their last nine games. Sophomore lefty Jake Berry struck out nine over five shutout innings, while freshman Jay Woolfolk and graduate right-hander Paul Kosanovich finished off the 8-0 shutout on Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 10
4. Texas Tech (17-3, 2-1)
In one of the biggest series of the season so far, the Red Raiders took down their rival Texas in two of three games. The first two games took an extra frame to decide and were truly a battle of heavyweights in the Big 12 Conference. Texas Tech shortstop Kurt Wilson played the hero in both walk-off victories, stealing home in the bottom of the 10th in game one, then smashing a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th in game two. The Red Raiders were unable to complete the sweep on Sunday but proved they can keep up with the best of the best teams in the country.
KURT WILSON PLAYS HERO AGAIN!!!!!
GRAND SLAM WALK-OFF TO BEAT TEXAS, 16-12!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ke4FsBQTnz
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 26, 2022
Previous Ranking: 13
5. Texas (20-5, 1-2)
The Longhorns were able to salvage the final game of the series, but it was a big series loss to their biggest rival. The Texas bats came alive on Sunday, beating the Red Raiders 12-1, behind homers by Trey Faltine, Skyler Messinger, and Mitchell Daly. Lucas Gordon struck out seven over six innings while allowing just one run on five hits and two walks.
Previous Ranking: 2
6. Oregon State (16-5, 6-3)
The Beavers had a 3-1 week after taking two of three from California on the road. They have now improved to 11-2 on the road and it was their 10th series win over Cal in the last 11 meetings. Second baseman Travis Bazzana went 8-for-12 in the series and drove in six runs. The freshman started a ninth-inning rally on Saturday with a two-run homer to cut the Oregon State deficit to 7-3. They came back to tie it but ultimately wound up losing the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Previous Ranking: 6
7. Florida State (16-7, 6-3)
The Seminoles took two out of three from Duke for another ACC series win. The pitching was dominant over the first two games, as both starters, Parker Messick and Bryce Hubbart went seven innings. Messick struck out 14 Blue Devils while not allowing a run, while Hubbart surrendered two runs on eight hits and one walk along with four strikeouts.
Previous Ranking: 7
8. Miami (16-6, 8-2)
The Hurricanes jump into the top ten after sweeping ACC rival North Carolina over the weekend. It took 14 innings in the series finale on Sunday, but Miami pulled through and brought out the brooms. They tied the game in the ninth inning and then Renzo Gonzalez came through with an RBI single to walk it off in the 14th. With the win, Miami is now tied with Virginia for first place in the ACC Coastal Division.
Previous Ranking: 12
9. Oklahoma State (18-6, 3-0)
Extending their winning streak to 11 games, the Cowboys completed the sweep over Kansas on Sunday with a 7-2 win. In the opening game on Friday, Justin Campbell pitched a complete game while striking out nine and allowing two runs on three hits and one walk. Victor Mederos struck out nine over six innings on Saturday, and Bryce Osmond struck out seven over five innings on Sunday.
Previous Ranking: 8
10. Vanderbilt (19-4, 4-2)
It was a rough week for the Commodores, as they lost two out of three to unranked South Carolina, who was under .500 before the series. Vanderbilt took the first game, 10-0, before losing the next two 8-2 and 8-6. Saturday starter Carter Holton really struggled, as he surrendered seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings. Bryce Cunningham and Hunter Owen combined to allow six runs over 4 1/3 innings on Sunday.
Previous Ranking: 4
11. Ole Miss (16-7, 2-4)
After getting swept by Tennessee, the Rebels fall out of the top 10. They kept it close on Sunday after getting crushed the first two games, but couldn’t finish a late comeback attempt. Catcher Hayden Dunhurst smashed a three-run homer in the eighth to cut it to 4-3, but Ole Miss couldn’t complete the comeback in the ninth.
Previous Ranking: 3
12. Florida (17-7, 3-3)
After winning the opening game of their LSU series, the Gators got outscored 27-6 in the final two games. Neither Florida starter lasted very long on Saturday and Sunday. Redshirt freshman Ryan Slater allowed four runs over 3 1/3 and sophomore Brandon Sproat allowed six runs (five earned) over 2 1/3 innings.
Previous Ranking: 9
13. North Carolina (18-6, 5-4)
Getting swept by the hands of Miami was the Diamond Heels’ first series loss of the season. They had the lead for eight innings on Sunday to try and salvage the sweep, before Miami forced extras and won in 14 innings. In such an important conference series, North Carolina proved to be the lesser team. At least at this point in the season, as their pitching just didn’t do enough to stop the Miami bats.
Previous Ranking: 11
14. Louisville (19-5, 6-0)
After their sweep over Notre Dame last week, Louisville stayed perfect in ACC play by sweeping Boston College. It took extra innings on Saturday, but the Cardinals pulled it out in 11 innings after scoring four runs in the frame. Sunday starter Riley Phillips struck out seven Eagles bats over seven shutout innings, as the Cardinals won 15-1.
Previous Ranking: 20
15. TCU (18-5, 5-1)
TCU had a perfect 4-0 week and swept Kansas State to improve to 5-1 in the Big 12. Saturday’s contest included an eight-run sixth inning from the Horn Frogs, which started with a grand slam from shortstop Tommy Sacco. Sacco had eight RBI in the series which saw TCU score over 10 runs in the last two games.
Previous Ranking: 18
16. Notre Dame (12-5, 2-4)
The Fighting Irish had their final two games of their series against Virginia Tech wiped out. They lost the first game, but that doesn’t make them fall in the rankings. The weather has not been kind to Notre Dame as they’ve had four cancellations and one postponement this season.
Previous Ranking: 16
17. LSU (17-7, 3-3)
LSU deserves to be back in the rankings after their big series win over Florida. Things looked grim in the first game, but their bats came to life in the final two. Designated hitter Brayden Jobert mashed two homers on Sunday while driving in five runs. Freshman right-handers Samuel Dutton and Grant Taylor combined to limit Florida to two runs.
Previous Ranking: NR
18. Texas State (20-5, 5-1)
Texas State kept it going in conference play, winning their series over Coastal Carolina. WIth series win over Arizona and win over Texas, the Bobcats will continue to be ranked. As long as they keep up the high-level play in conference and big non-conference series and games, they will not fall off.
Previous Ranking: 21
19. Gonzaga (16-6, 5-1)
After starting the week with two straight losses to Oregon and BYU, Gonzaga finished the week nicely by winning the last two games to win the BYU series. It was a two-out rally galore on Sunday, as the Zags scored seven of their nine runs with two outs.
Previous Ranking: 22
20. NC State (15-8, 4-4)
A sweep of Georgia Tech garners a move back into the rankings for NC State. The legend of Tommy White returned in the series finale on Sunday. Tommy Tanks mashed his 12th homer on the season which is tied for second in the nation.
Previous Ranking: NR
21. Arizona (17-7, 6-3)
The Wildcats lost two of three to the very confusing UCLA Bruins team. UCLA is a team that on a good day is beating Texas and winning a series against Arizona on the road. Then on a bad day, they’re losing two straight to Pepperdine and Omaha. Nonetheless, it wasn’t a good series for Arizona.
Previous Ranking: 14
22. Liberty (15-7, 3-3)
Liberty has continued to struggle, as they lost the series to Stetson over the weekend. The Flames went 1-3 this week as they also lost their game versus Wake Forest earlier in the week. Both starters, Max Alba and Trey Gibson, struggled in the weekend losses. They each surrendered three runs in minimal innings, Alba in three, and Gibson in two.
Previous Ranking: 15
23. Georgia Tech (16-9, 4-5)
After being swept by previously unranked NC State, Georgia Tech falls down the rankings. They have now lost four in a row, with Friday night starter Chance Huff surrendering five earned runs in just three innings of work. If they are going to stick in the rankings, they are going to have to bounce back on the road against Virginia next weekend.
Previous Ranking: 17
24. UConn (17-5, 0-0)
The Huskies have continued to win games in non-conference action, winning another series against Rhode Island. They have won all five of their series so far this season. UConn doesn’t start conference action until April 8 against St. John’s.
Previous Ranking: NR
25. Maryland (18-5, 0-0)
The Terps lost two out of three to Dallas Baptist this weekend. Junior right-hander Nick Dean gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings on Friday, while sophomore Jason Savacool surrendered four runs over six innings on Sunday.
Previous Ranking: 19
Falls off rankings: Wake Forest, Georgia, Clemson
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Main Image Credit: From MLB.com
