Collegiate Baseball Div. I Poll 4-4-16

FLORIDA NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL POLL

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Florida (27-3) is ranked No.1 for the eight straight Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division I baseball poll presented by Big League Chew bubble gum.

The Gators, winners of 21 of their last 23 games and four in a row, swept a 3-game series from Texas A&M over the past weekend. In addition, the Gators knocked off Florida State during a mid-week game. Florida established a program record with their 25th consecutive home win.

Several teams have been red-hot. Michigan has nine in a row and Coastal Carolina, Miami (Fla.) and California seven straight. South Alabama has raced to a 12-0 record in the Sun Belt Conference. Utah is a surprise of the 2016 season so far as the Utes are tied for first place in the Pac-12 Conference with a 7-2 league mark along with California. In the last three weeks, Utah has taken two of three at Oregon, two of three at Arizona State, and swept a three-game series at home against Arizona.

In key series over the past weekend, Florida swept Texas A&M three straight, Vanderbilt took two of three from South Carolina, Miami swept a three-game series from North Carolina, Mississippi State took two of three from Mississippi, California swept a three-game series against UCLA, U.C. Santa Barbara captured two of three against Long Beach State while N.C. State won two of three against Virginia.

Three teams fell out of the top 30 this week in Alabama (1-3), Long Beach State (1-3) and Arizona (1-4). New to the poll is Coastal Carolina (13 wins in last 15 games), South Alabama (12-0 in the Sun Belt conference), and Utah (tied for first in the Pac-12 with a 7-2 record).

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 April 4, 2016)
www.bigleaguechew.com 

NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• OF Tyler Dixon, Murray State: Dixon belted 5 home runs with 12 RBI and 9 runs scored. He tied a program record with 4 home runs during a 31-11 win over Eastern Illinois. In addition, he had 4 doubles during the week as he was 13-for-21 at the plate.

• RHP Robert Tyler, Georgia: Tyler came within one out of throwing a no-hitter against Alabama before a pinch hit solo home run ruined the bid. It ended a stretch of 15 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings, a span of 53 batters faced, between hits covering three games. He struck out 9 against Alabama during a 9-inning complete game.
  
  
• RHP Andrew Wantz, N.C. Greensboro: Wantz struck out 17 batters over nine innings in three relief appearances. He only allowed three hits and one earned run.

• C Brett Cumberland, California: Cumberland belted three home runs with 7 RBI over four games as he was 8-for-13.

• LHP Ben Bowden, Vanderbilt: Bowden struck out 9 over 4 1/3 innings as he picked up two saves against South Carolina.

• RHP Clay Chandler, Southeast Missouri: Chandler struck out 11 and walked one during a 9-inning complete game. He allowed four hits during a shutout over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

• RHP Dakota Hudson, Mississippi State: Hudson had the best game of his career during his first complete game victory against Mississippi. He struck out 11 and walked none.

• 1B Braxton Martinez, St. Louis: Martinez hit three home runs over 4 games with 8 RBI as he went 8-for-16 at the plate.

• RHP Brooks Wilson, Stetson: Wilson fired a 2-hitter and struck out 11 during a 9-inning complete game against The Citadel. He recorded six 1-2-3 innings and only allowed two runners past first base.