College Top 25: April 8

Craig Cozart Vincent Cervino

For the first time in quite some while, there was no change amongst the Top-5 but there was significant movement thereafter. The theme of the week seemed to be all about the sweep as many teams made profound statements while others fell flat on their faces. One thing that continues to be very apparent is that no team can take any opponent lightly. We are entering the time of season where every series carries significant weight and the teams that can sweep or prevent getting swept will rise to the top.

Arkansas (27-3) keeps their spot at the top with a perfect (4-0) week and continue to dazzle with their quality and depth on the mound. No. 2 Clemson (28-3) is tied with No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (28-4) for the most wins in the nation and both are showing that they are legitimate Omaha contenders. After losing their first series of the year, No. 4 Oregon State (26-4) responded with going (5-0) last week on the strength of one of the nation’s best lineups. While they did lose the first game on the road this weekend, No. 5 Tennessee (26-6) responded by putting up runs in bunches the next two games and won another SEC series.

As for the sweeps, we have already mentioned the three teams in the Top-5 that had a flawless week but there were several others to follow suit. No. 7 Duke (24-8) is back on a roll and used some late inning heroics to sweep ACC foe Miami. The Kentucky Wildcats (27-4) are playing like the best team in the country and jump up to No. 9 after their sweep of the Crimson Tide. No. 15 Wake Forest (22-10) seems to have found their groove and went on the road to sweep a very good Virginia Tech club. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (24-8) have won 15 games in a row now and make their debut in the poll at No. 21 this week.

We have two other new additions to the rankings this week. Oklahoma State (21-11) have methodically gotten themselves into a good place on the national landscape and jump in at No. 20 as they are only 1 game out of first place in the Big 12. Finally, Mississippi State (21-12) is playing .500 ball in the SEC and after their dramatic series victory over Georgia, they slide in at No. 23 this week.

Rank	Team		Prev. Rank	Weekly Rec.	Overall Rec.
1		Arkansas	1	(4-0)	(27-3)
2		Clemson	2	(4-0)	(28-3)
3		Texas A&M	3	(3-1)	(28-4)
4		Oregon State	4	(5-0)	(26-4)
5		Tennessee	5	(2-1)	(26-6)
6		Vanderbilt	8	(2-1)	(25-7)
7		Duke	9	(4-0)	(24-8)
8		Florida State	11	(4-1)	(26-5)
9		Kentucky	12	(3-0)	(27-4)
10		Virginia	13	(3-1)	(25-7)
11		Dallas Baptist	7	(2-2)	(25-6)
12		North Carolina	10	(1-2)	(26-6)
13		East Carolina	18	(3-1)	(23-7)
14		UC Irvine	19	(2-1)	(24-4)
15		Wake Forest	24	(4-0)	(22-10)
16		Florida	6	(1-3)	(17-14)
17		UCF	20	(2-1)	(21-8)
18		Indiana State	17	(2-2)	(23-7)
19		Virginia Tech	14	(0-3)	(21-8)
20		Oklahoma State	NR	(3-1)	(21-11)
21		Louisiana	NR	(4-0)	(24-8)
22		Coastal Carolina	22	(2-2)	(22-9)
23		Mississippi State	NR	(2-2)	(21-12)
24		Alabama	15	(1-3)	(22-10)
25		Nebraska	25	(2-2)	(22-7)