WAKE FOREST NO. 1 IN CB’S LATEST POLL
TUCSON, Ariz. — Wake Forest (45-9) is ranked No. 1 for the third straight time in Collegiate Baseball’s NCAA Division I baseball poll presented by Big League Chew bubble gum.
The Demon Deacons, which beat Virginia Tech. two of three over the weekend, became the first team since North Carolina in 2017 to win all 10 ACC series in a season. They also set a program record for regular-season wins with 45.
Wake Forest leads all NCAA Div. I schools in seven categories, including ERA (2.72), hits allowed per nine innings (6.57), shutouts by pitching staff (9), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.41), strikeouts per nine innings (12.0), WHIP (1.03) and win-loss percentage (.833).
In key series across the USA, Arkansas lost two of three at Vanderbilt, Stanford swept Washington St. on the road three games, Florida took two of three at Kentucky, Louisiana St. won two of three at Georgia, Miami (Fla.) won two of three at home against Duke, Virginia swept three at Georgia Tech., Texas swept three at home against West Virginia, Oklahoma St. took two of three at Oklahoma, Clemson swept three against North Carolina at home, Tennessee took two of three at South Carolina, Alabama swept three against Mississippi at home and Auburn swept three at Missouri.
Poll Notes: Several teams are on impressive winning streaks, including Oral Roberts (15), Clemson (12), Virginia (9), Auburn (8) and Coastal Carolina (7).
Two teams fell out of the top 30 in Kansas St. (1-2 last week, lost 4 of last 5) and Kentucky (1-2 last week, lost 4 of last 6).
New to the poll is Texas (38-18, 15-9 Big 12 tied for first place, 5 straight wins) and Auburn (33-19-1, 17-13 SEC, 8 straight wins).
The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1959 college baseball season.
Collegiate Baseball’s
NCAA Div. I Baseball Poll
(As of May 22, 2023)
Presented By
www.bigleaguechew.com
| Rank | Team (Record) | Points | PVS |
| 1. | Wake Forest (45-9) | 493 | 1 |
| 2. | Stanford (37-14) | 491 | 3 |
| 3. | Florida (42-13) | 489 | 4 |
| 4. | Arkansas (39-15) | 486 | 2 |
| 5. | Louisiana St. (42-13) | 483 | 5 |
| 6. | Virginia (44-11) | 480 | 7 |
| 7. | Clemson (39-17) | 477 | 11 |
| 8. | Miami, Fla. (37-18) | 475 | 6 |
| 9. | Indiana St. (38-14) | 474 | 9 |
| 10. | Oral Roberts (43-11) | 470 | 12 |
| 11. | Coastal Carolina (37-17) | 468 | 13 |
| 12. | Southern Mississippi (37-16) | 465 | 14 |
| 13. | Texas (38-18) | 462 | — |
| 14. | Oklahoma St. (37-16) | 460 | 10 |
| 15. | Vanderbilt (37-17) | 458 | 15 |
| 16. | Auburn (33-19-1) | 455 | — |
| 17. | Oregon St. (39-16) | 452 | 18 |
| 18. | West Virginia (39-16) | 450 | 8 |
| 19. | Alabama (38-17) | 448 | 19 |
| 20. | Connecticut (40-13) | 445 | 20 |
| 21. | Dallas Baptist (42-13) | 442 | 22 |
| 22. | Maryland (37-19) | 438 | 23 |
| 23. | Kent St. (40-14) | 435 | 24 |
| 24. | East Carolina (41-15) | 431 | 25 |
| 25. | Tennessee (38-18) | 427 | 29 |
| 26. | South Carolina (38-17) | 425 | 16 |
| 27. | Duke (35-19) | 422 | 17 |
| 28. | U.C. Santa Barbara (35-17) | 421 | 27 |
| 29. | Boston College (34-17) | 420 | 30 |
| 30. | Campbell (41-13) | 416 | 21 |
Collegiate Baseball’s
National Players Of The Week
Powered By
www.diamond-sports.com
DH Taylor Smith, Texas-San Antonio: Smith went 9-for-20 while launching six home runs, a triple, a double and 10 RBI. Three of Smith’s six home runs came during an 18-16 win over Louisiana Tech, tying the program record for homers in one game. His six home runs on the week brought his season total to 17, one shy of the program record.
1B/OF Brandon Pimentel, Texas Rio Grande Valley: Pimentel went 12-for-14 with 5 home runs, 1 double, 15 RBI and scored 10 runs with 4 walks. He collected 3 hits in each of his 4 games.
DH Eric Toth, Mercer: Toth belted 5 homers over 4 games with 6 RBI and 7 runs scored as he went 7-for-17. He has now hit at least 1 home run in 5 consecutive games.
RHP Jake Bockenstedt, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville: Bockenstedt teamed with pitcher Hayden Cooper to throw the 11th no-hitter in school history during a 4-0 win over Lindenwood. Bockenstedt went the first 8 innings and allowed no hits with 8 strikeouts. Cooper closed out the no-no with 3 strikeouts over one inning.
3B Austin Deming, Brigham Young: Deming had a huge 3-game series against Pepperdine as he went 7-for-12 with 4 home runs, 2 doubles, 11 RBI, scored 7 runs and walked 3 times.
RHP Paul Skenes, Louisiana St.: Skenes worked 7 innings against Georgia and struck out 12 batters. He leads the nation with 164 strikeouts. He has been one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of The Week eight times this season which has never been accomplished before.
C Ethan Hibbard, Fairfield: Hibbard belted 4 homers with 7 RBI and 9 runs scored during a 3-game sweep of Iona. He also drew 4 walks as he went 6-for-9.
RHP Omar Serrano, San Diego St.: Serrano only allowed 1 hit in 6 1/3 innings of work against New Mexico with 8 strikeouts and didn’t allow a run.
3B Danny Lynch, Southern Mississippi: Lynch established a school record with 2 grand slams and tied another with 8 RBI during an 11-9 win over Louisiana-Lafayette.
RHP Tanner Hall, Southern Mississippi: Hall threw 8 scoreless innings against Louisiana-Lafayette and struck out 12 as he only allowed 3 hits. At one point, he retired 16 batters in a row
SS Jimmy Allen, Western Michigan: Allen went 7-for-11 with 5 doubles, 4 runs scored and 5 RBI as Western Michigan took 2 of 3 from Central Michigan.
RHP Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest: Lowder struck out a career-high 12 Virginia Tech. batters over 6 innings and only yielded 1 walk. The first seven outs of his outing came via the strikeout.
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