TUCSON, Ariz. --- The
Tusculum College baseball team dropped six spots and is ranked No.
30 in this week's Collegiate Baseball Magazine's Division
II Coaches' Poll. For a second straight week, Tusculum was idle and
amazingly for a second consecutive week, the Pioneers (36-16) fell
in the polls. Since ending the regular season, TC has dropped 11
spots in the rankings.
Tusculum earned its third straight NCAA Division II Tournament
berth this year and is the No. 5 seed in this week's Southeast
Regional in Aiken, S.C. The Pioneers will face second-seeded
Francis Marion on Thursday at 3 p.m. from Roberto Hernandez
Stadium.
Southern Arkansas is the top-ranked team in the final regular
season poll. SAU has the best record in the nation at 49-9. UC San
Diego is second in the country, followed by Barry, West Chester and
USC Aiken to comprise this week's top five. USC Aiken is serving as
host of the NCAA Southeast Regional.
Ashland is sixth, while Francis Marion and West Alabama are tied
for seventh, while Abilene Christian and Tampa round out the top
10. Sonoma State and Grand Valley State are tied for 11th, followed
by Central Missouri, Florida Southern, Delta State, Angelo State,
Emporia State, Western Oregon, Valdosta State, Georgia College
& State, Catawba, UT Permian Basin, Armstrong Atlantic State,
Cameron, Minnesota State Mankato, Wayne State (Neb.),
Nebraska-Omaha, Franklin Pierce and Mesa State. Tusculum, UNC
Pembroke and New Mexico Highlands are in a three-way tie for 30th
according to this week's rankings.
The Pioneers are making their fifth NCAA postseason appearance in
the last seven years, but will mark the first time TC has played a
NCAA Tournament game outside of Florida. Tusculum made back-to-back
trips to Lakeland (2003, 2005) and consecutive journeys to Tampa
(2007, 2008).
The NCAA realigned its regional format, placing Tusculum and the
South Atlantic Conference in the Southeast Region, along with
colleges and universities representing Conference Carolinas and the
Peach Belt Conference.
- NCAA -
Collegiate Baseball
Division II Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team Rec. Pts. Prv.
1. Southern Arkansas 49-9 480 1
2. UC San Diego 36-12 464 4
3. Barry 44-9 444 NR
4. West Chester 42-10 432 7
5. USC Aiken 39-17 408 2
6. Ashland 41-13-1 398 3
7. Francis Marion 36-13-1 378 T9
West Alabama 37-14 378 5
9. Abilene Christian 44-17 352 14
10. Tampa 38-15 340 13
11. Sonoma State 32-14 314 12
Grand Valley State 41-13-1 314 16
13. Central Missouri 41-13 278 11
14. Florida Southern 38-14 274 15
15. Delta State 38-16 250 T9
16. Angelo State 44-18 248 20
17. Emporia State 42-12 226 8
18. Western Oregon 33-12 206 T18
19. Valdosta State 41-19 184 NR
20. Georgia College & State 37-17 182 17
21. Catawba 35-16 168 21
22. UT Permian Basin 39-17 136 NR
23. Armstrong Atlantic State 38-18 116 T22
24. Cameron 43-16 104 6
25. Minnesota State Mankato 38-15 102 RV
26. Wayne State (Neb.) 42-13 76 T18
27. Nebraska - Omaha 40-18 52 RV
28. Franklin Pierce 37-16 44 RV
29. Mesa State 39-13 42 T22
30. TUSCULUM 36-16 24 T24
UNC Pembroke 37-17 24 T29
New Mexico Highlands 39-19 24 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Northern Kentucky 16,
North Georgia 6, Shepherd 6, Cal State Los Angeles 4, Cal State
Dominguez Hills 4, Indianapolis 4, Southern Indiana 2, Mercyhurst
2, Belmont Abbey 1, Erskine 1, Barton 1, Co
