Collegiate Baseball Div. I Poll 3-28-16

FLORIDA NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL POLL

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Florida (23-3) is ranked No.1 for the seventh straight Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division I baseball poll presented by Big League Chew bubble gum.

The Gators, winners of 15 in a row heading into the week, posted a 2-2 record with Kentucky taking 2 of 3 at home against Florida. The Gators won a mid-week game against Florida Atlantic. Despite the pair of losses, Florida has still won 17 of its last 19 games.

South Carolina made a big jump in the poll moving from 13th to second. The Gamecocks (23-2) swept a three-game series at Mississippi and lead the Southeastern Conference with a 6-0 record, the best league start in school history. South Carolina has also won 13 in a row.

In key series over the weekend, California swept Oregon State three at home, Georgia Tech took 2 of 3 at North Carolina, Texas A&M won 2 of 3 at home against LSU, Miami swept Clemson at home three straight, Louisville won two of three at home against Virginia and Arizona won 2 of 3 at home against UCLA,

POLL NOTES: Several teams have impressive winning streaks. South Carolina has won 13 in a row , Creighton 10 straight while Michigan, Tulane and Texas Tech have each captured 5 in a row.

Three teams fell out of the top 30 this week in UCLA (1-2), Oregon (2-2), and Dallas Baptist (2-2). New to the poll is Creighton (16-4 overall), Texas Tech. (16-7) and Arizona (16-7).

The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1959 college baseball season.

Collegiate Baseball NCAA Div. I Poll
(As of March 28, 2016)
www.bigleaguechew.com

NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• RHP Ryan Hingst, Arizona State: Hingst pitched the 10th no-hitter in Sun Devil baseball history during a 5-0 win over Utah. In his first start of the season and first career Pac-12 start, he struck out a career high 9 batters. He only allow four base runners during his 121-pitch outing.

• 1B/RHP Darick Hall, Dallas Baptist: Hall hit six home runs over four games as he went 10-for-18 at the plate. He tied a school record with 4 homers and 7 RBI in one game against Incarnate Word. For the week, he had 10 RBI, 28 total bases and scored 7 runs.

• LHP J.P. Sears, The Citadel: Sears struck out a career-high 19 batters during a 10-2 win over VMI. He finished just one shy of the school record.

• C Michael Cruz, Bethune-Cookman: Cruz belted five home runs with 8 RBI and 8 runs scored as he went 7-for-12 at the plate.

• RHP Braden Webb, South Carolina: Webb struck out 14 batters in 8-plus innings against Mississippi. After allowing three base runners to reach in the first inning, he retired 17 in a row and 23-of-25 at one stretch.

• C Deon Stafford, Saint Joseph’s: Stafford hit four home runs with 5 RBI over four games as he went 7-for-16 at the plate.

• RHP Tanner Houck, Missouri: Houck only allowed two hits while striking out 14 Vanderbilt batters over 9 shutout innings during a no decision against the Commodores. Of the two hits, both were ground balls, including one for an infield single.