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College  | Rankings | 5/13/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: May 13

The college baseball postseason has arrived for NCAA Division II, Division III, and the NAIA, bringing with it the most intense stretch of the season. Conference tournaments have wrapped up, national brackets are taking shape, and teams across the country are shifting from regular season positioning to survival mode, where one bad inning can abruptly end a year’s worth of work.

The NAIA Opening Round is already underway, and some programs could begin packing for the national finals as early as tomorrow. Across all three divisions, the postseason field is loaded with experienced clubs, dominant pitching staffs, and lineups capable of changing a game with one swing. Now, the focus turns from building résumés to advancing through regional play and chasing national championships.



These antepenultimate rankings provide a final snapshot of where the divisions stand entering the postseason push. Included alongside the rankings are Perfect Game’s selections for top player, pitcher, MVP, and outstanding coach in each division, recognizing the standout performers and programs that shaped the regular season. Several of the honorees have put together remarkable campaigns, whether at the plate, on the mound, or in guiding teams through demanding schedules.

The postseason spotlight, however, always expands beyond the major award winners. Every bracket features additional players who have quietly established themselves among the nation’s best, including power hitters, shutdown relievers, and versatile everyday players capable of taking over a series. As tournament play begins, many of those names are about to receive a much larger audience.

The road to a national title officially begins now. The regular season numbers have been recorded. What happens next will determine who turns a strong spring into a championship run.
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Rk. School St. Record
1 Tampa Spartans FL 41-8
2 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 49-5
3 Texas Tyler Patriots TX 43-10
4 North Greenville Trailblazers SC 47-10
5 Pittsburg State Gorillas KS 43-9
6 Catawba Indians NC 42-11
7 Point Loma Sea Lions CA 44-10
8 Grand Valley State Lakers MI 45-8
9 Seton Hill Griffins PA 41-10
10 West Chester Golden Rams PA 39-10
11 Francis Marion Patriots SC 42-12
12 Young Harris Mountain Lions GA 39-16
13 Angelo State Rams TX 40-17
14 Rollins Tars FL 34-14
15 East Stroudsburg Warriors PA 36-14
16 Augustana Vikings SD 41-13
17 Wingate Bulldogs NC 39-17
18 Belmont Abbey Crusaders NC 38-14
19 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears NC 37-13-1
20 West Florida Argos FL 39-13
21 Minnesota State Mavericks MN 40-14
22 Central Missouri Mules MO 34-15
23 North Georgia Nighthawks GA 41-14
24 Molloy Lions NY 39-9
25 Wayne State Warriors MI 37-14

NCAA DII Players of the Year

Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State

The senior leads the nation in slugging percentage while batting .436 with 21 doubles and 24 home runs. He has also drawn 57 walks for a .575 on-base percentage and set a new MIAA record with a 37-game hitting streak, helping the Gorillas earn the program’s first-ever regular season title and their first MIAA Tournament title since 1999.

Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion
Bussey was named the Conference Carolinas Player of the Year after batting a DII-leading .476 with 19 home runs and 39 stolen bases. He also drew 55 walks and was hit by 13 pitches to amass a .597 on-base percentage.

Also considered: Edward Waters’ Daniel Donaldson-Fountain and North Greenville’s Josh Foulks each had splendid seasons and deserve every accolade coming their way. Biola’s James Whitman was not too shabby either. UC Colorado Springs’ Trevor Dale leads the division in home runs while playing solid defense at shortstop. Colorado Mesa’s Kolby Felix also received a strong look.

DII Most Valuable Player

Zack Stokes, West Florida

Stokes carried a .240 career batting average into his final graduate season before erupting for a monster campaign that helped return the Argos to the postseason. He is batting a conference-leading .435 with 14 home runs, second in the GSC, along with a conference-best 20 doubles. He also tops the GSC charts in on-base percentage at .549 while striking out only 19 times.

Also considered: Kolby Felix propelled Colorado Mesa to greater heights this season, leading CMU in virtually every offensive category while batting .426 with 17 home runs and 26 stolen bases. Tristan Moore has kept Point Loma on the short list of national title favorites, hitting .382 while leading the Sea Lions in doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, runs, and stolen bases. Lee’s Luke Collier paced the Flames with a .411 average, .706 slugging percentage, and .486 on-base percentage to help return the program to the NCAA postseason. Daniel Donaldson-Fountain continued to be a monster talent for Edward Waters.

NCAA DII Pitcher of the Year

Colby Deaver, Emporia State

Despite pitching in a conference that placed five teams in the NCAA postseason, Deaver dominated on the mound. The sophomore finished the season with 102 strikeouts in 96 innings and a 1.50 ERA. He allowed only 67 hits and 12 walks for a 0.82 WHIP while holding opponents to a .191 batting average.

Also considered: Delta State’s Andrian Byrd posted a 1.45 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 93 innings as the Statesmen advanced to the NCAA postseason for the 38th time in school history. Tampa starters Robert Satin and BJ Bailey were both among the nation’s best. Embry-Riddle’s Tristan Harley excelled in a dual role, finishing with a 2.21 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 61 innings while allowing only 44 hits across 20 appearances and five starts. Grand Valley State’s Collin Bradley posted a 1.87 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 81 2/3 innings for the resurgent Lakers.

NCAA DII Coach of the Year

Mike LaRosa, West Chester

Of the eight regular starters from last season who logged at least 100 at-bats for the Golden Rams, only one played a prominent offensive role this season. Yet with a reworked lineup, eight West Chester players earned All-League honors, headlined by Julian Costa, the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year. WCU went from unranked at the start of the season to firmly entrenched in the top ten, earning the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region and finishing one win shy of a new school record for victories.

Also considered: Northwest Missouri State’s Tony Jandron set the school record for wins by a first-year coach last season with 27, then pushed the Bearcats to 36 wins this year, a total not achieved by the program in more than 20 years.

Rk. School St. Record
1 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies GA 46-6
2 Taylor Trojans IN 49-5
3 Cumberlands Patriots KY 46-8
4 Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes KS 48-7
5 Bellevue Bruins NE 48-4
6 Johnson Royals TN 37-12
7 Hope International Royals CA 37-13
8 Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs TN 40-14
9 LSU Shreveport Pilots LA 40-12
10 Southeastern Fire FL 39-14
11 Missouri Baptist Spartans MO 39-10
12 Doane Tigers NE 44-9
13 Lewis-Clark State Warriors ID 41-7
14 Milligan Buffaloes TN 40-13
15 Webber International Warriors FL 37-17
16 Texas Wesleyan Rams TX 41-10
17 Abraham Baldwin Stallions GA 39-15
18 Loyola Wolf Pack LA 36-17
19 Louisiana Christian Wildcats LA 35-13
20 Concordia Bulldogs NE 37-16
21 William Carey Crusaders MS 35-17
22 Indiana Southeast Grenadiers IN 39-14
23 Keiser Seahawks FL 35-17
24 A&M Victoria Jaguars TX 36-15
25 Mid-America Christian Evangels OK 38-13


NAIA Player of the Year

Carter Claerhout, Bellevue

Claerhout is in the midst of one of the most dominant seasons in Bellevue’s storied history. After transferring from DII Southern Arkansas, he has already been named Frontier Conference Player of the Year, earned NAIA National Player of the Week honors twice, and captured Frontier Conference Player of the Week honors five times. He leads the NAIA in batting average, hits, home runs, total bases, and slugging percentage while also ranking among the national leaders in on-base percentage, RBI, and runs scored. The slugger additionally earned a Gold Glove for his defense at first base.

Also considered: LSU Shreveport’s Carlos Sanchez is batting .400 with 19 doubles, 13 triples, 12 home runs, and 36 stolen bases. Madonna’s Aamir Mitchell is hitting .405 with 31 stolen bases while adding 17 doubles, 22 home runs, and 43 walks for a .531 on-base percentage. Josh Shelly helped Tennessee Wesleyan win its third consecutive AAC Tournament title after earning AAC Player of the Week honors three times this season. He led the Bulldogs with a .415 average, 20 doubles, three triples, and 12 home runs while adding 11 stolen bases.

NAIA MVP

Aamir Mitchell, Madonna

Mitchell was named the WHAC Player of the Year after leading the Crusaders to 41 wins and the WHAC Tournament Championship. The junior outfielder leads the conference with 22 home runs and 31 stolen bases. His .405 batting average tops the WHAC, while his 72 RBI also lead the conference.

Also considered: Carter Claerhout has been a huge part of Bellevue’s offense, though the Bruins likely still would have won the newly renamed Frontier Conference without him. However, they almost certainly would not be among the nation’s elite or favorites to return to the NAIA World Series. Brendon Vela played a major role in Texas Wesleyan’s offensive success, leading the Rams in batting average, doubles, triples, and home runs while finishing second in stolen bases. No player individually elevated his team more than MidAmerica Nazarene’s Ronnie Rowley, who recorded the highest single-season OPS (1.361), highest OBP (.530), and second-highest slugging percentage (.831) in program history. Concordia’s Bronx Lewis proved so imposing that Doane pitchers intentionally walked him five straight times after he launched his 22nd and 23rd home runs during the GPAC title game.

NAIA Pitcher of the Year

Brock Lewis, LSU Shreveport

The senior hurler currently ranks second nationally with a 1.83 ERA and 111 strikeouts in only 88 1/3 innings. He threw five complete games in 15 starts, walked only 17 batters, and held opponents to a .179 batting average while surrendering just 54 hits in 301 at-bats.

Also considered: Canyon Geren has been a major reason for Milligan’s best season in program history, entering the postseason with a 1.86 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings while allowing only 44 hits and 28 walks. Valley City State’s Connor Martin should lead the NAIA with 134 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .208 batting average while posting a 3.68 ERA over 93 1/3 innings. St. Ambrose’s Dominic Guzman finished with a 2.93 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. Had he pitched in more than eight games, Concordia’s Micah Sweeton may have earned the honor after recording a 2.08 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 39 innings, good for 15.4 K/9.

NAIA Coach of the Year

Skyler Barnett, Milligan

The Buffs have become a different team under Barnett. After earning the program’s first NAIA Opening Round appearance in 2024 and nearly advancing again last season, Milligan reached another level this spring by winning the ultra-competitive AAC regular season title and earning another postseason berth. The Buffs scored double-digit runs 20 times, earned five wins over Top 25 RPI teams, and saw ace Canyon Geren named AAC Pitcher of the Year.

Also considered: Bellevue’s Duane Monlux and Texas Wesleyan’s Bobby Garza both have long histories of success at their schools, but this season deserves a spot on the fridge. Bellevue underwent significant turnover from last season, while the Rams had been stuck on 27 wins in each of the past two years. The two programs combined to go 89-15.

Rk. School St. Record
1 Denison Big Red OH 40-1
2 Lynchburg Hornets VA 36-6-1
3 UW-Whitewater Warhawks WI 41-4
4 Endicott Gulls MA 35-9
5 Salisbury Seagulls MD 32-9
6 Shenandoah Hornets VA 35-10
7 Rowan Profs NJ 32-5
8 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays MD 33-9
9 Salve Regina Seahawks RI 36-6
10 Kean Cougars NJ 29-11-1
11 Cortland State Red Dragons NY 29-10
12 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets OH 30-9
13 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags CA 31-13
14 East Texas Baptist Tigers TX 33-10
15 Tufts Jumbos MA 30-9
16 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens CA 31-12
17 Adrian Bulldogs MI 31-10
18 Belhaven Blazers MS 31-13
19 Russell Sage Gators NY 36-6
20 University of Chicago  IL 27-13
21 Transylvania Pioneers KY 29-12
22 Rhodes Lynx TN 29-15
23 Bridgewater Eagles VA 33-13
24 Washington Bears MO 28-11
25 DeSales Bulldogs PA 33-12


NCAA DIII Player of the Year

Trevor Testerman, Greensboro

The junior outfielder from Myrtle Beach led the USA South in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, RBI, home runs, and stolen bases with 25. His 16 home runs set a new single-season Greensboro program record while helping the Pride secure the USA South Regular Season Championship for the first time in school history.

Also considered: Concordia Chicago senior catcher Brandon Mahler has been one of the top hitters in NCAA DIII and helped return the Cougars to prominence. Denison’s Jack Lutte has been the best player on one of the nation’s best teams, batting .484 with 12 home runs and only 10 strikeouts. Baldwin Wallace’s Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider captured the OAC batting triple crown and conference MVP honors. Messiah senior outfielder Isaiah Parido helped lead the Falcons to the MAC Commonwealth Championship and another opportunity for a deep postseason run.

NCAA DIII MVP

Isaiah Parido, Messiah

Parido has accumulated 50 more total bases than any of his teammates while adding 29 stolen bases. He earned All-MAC Commonwealth First Team honors for the third straight season as the Falcons went 19-2 in conference play.

Also considered: Rowan’s Brayden Davis earned NJAC Player of the Year honors as one of the nation’s premier hitters. UMass Boston’s Elliot Miles enjoyed a tremendous season, though not enough to push his team into the extended postseason. Salve Regina’s Shane Williams hit .380 while leading the team with 14 home runs, ten more than any teammate, and 22 stolen bases. Robert Newland helped Kalamazoo crack the Perfect Game rankings for the first time by batting .391 with eight home runs and 40 stolen bases.

NCAA DIII Pitcher of the Year

Drew Bowles, Transylvania

Bowles earned HCAC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. He currently owns a 2.09 ERA with 106 strikeouts in just 77 1/3 innings while allowing only 55 hits. He also threw three complete games and held opponents to a .188 batting average.

Also considered: Olivet’s Bryan Carney was dominant, finishing with a 1.35 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings. Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Gradin Taschner has the Warhawks positioned for back-to-back titles after excelling as both a starter and reliever. Denison freshman Andrew Montero has emerged as a true ace.

NCAA DIII Coach of the Year

Mike Deegan, Denison

The Big Red reached new heights last season, then blew past those marks this spring to finish the regular season as the No. 1 team in NCAA DIII. Denison lost its second game of the season back in February but has since rattled off 39 consecutive victories.

Also considered: Sage earned its first-ever Empire 8 Tournament title under first-year head coach Matt Marsh. Tufts went 16-21 during Bryan Stark’s first season but rebounded to 29-9 after capturing the NESCAC title.

College | Story | 5/25/2026

Field of 64 Projections

Vincent Cervino
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Last Four In First Four Out Next Four Out 61. Mercer 65. Kentucky 69. Kent State 62. TCU 66. Texas State 70. Gonzaga 63. Troy 67. Pittsburgh 71. Miami (OH) 64. UTSA 68. NC State 72. Campbell Auto-Bids ACC Georgia Tech A10 VCU America East Binghamton American East Carolina ASUN Lipscomb Big 10 UCLA Big 12 Kansas Big East St. John's Big South USC Upstate Big West Cal Poly CAA Northeastern CUSA Jacksonville State Horizon Milwaukee Ivy Yale MAAC Rider MAC Northern Illinois MVC UIC MWC Washington State NEC LIU OVC Little Rock Patriot Holy Cross SEC Georgia SoCon The Citadel Southland Lamar Summit South Dakota State Sun Belt Southern Miss SWAC Alabama State WAC Tarleton State WCC Saint Mary's  Teams by Conference SEC 11 ACC 8 Big 12 7 Big 10 4 Sun Belt 4 CUSA 3 American 2 Big West 2 SoCon 2 Los Angeles Regional Conference 1 (1) UCLA* Big 10 2 (32) Arizona State Big 12 3 Cal Poly* Big West...
Tournaments | Story | 5/24/2026

East Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 IF Braylon Sheffield (FL) with an absolute 🚀 here, launching high off the RCF wall for a 3B. Super polished LH stick; hit over .400 last year on the circuit. #GoHoos commit. #EastMemorial pic.twitter.com/mdehqpR5v5 — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) May 23, 2026 Braylon Sheffield (2027, Fort Myers, Fla.) got the event started with the loudest swing of the night on Friday at Terry Park, rocketing a triple off the wall in the stadium. Sheffield, ranked 121 and committed to Virginia, is a super polished left-handed hitter with left side of the infield projection long term. The swing is tension-free with loose wrists and he generates easy bat speed with already present power to the pull side. This blast came inches away from being a home run and hitting a ball that far at Terry Park stadium is a significant shot. Sheffield also tripled in his second game of the weekend at...
Tournaments | Story | 5/24/2026

West Memorial Day Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Tyler Henninger
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Colton Floyd (‘27,AZ) just misses a HR here. Can really impact the baseball & shows over the fence power potential. Took 3 QAB’s today. He’s the #1 ranked 3B in the state and #4 in the country. #MDWest https://t.co/ReMh7D0v4y pic.twitter.com/w1dzssSy8N — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) May 23, 2026 Colton Floyd, 3B, Chandler, AZ. Canes West National (2027) Floyd is a high-upside prospect with physical tools and burgeoning power. His combination of size, bat speed, and raw strength makes him one of the top power-hitting third basemen in the country. Currently ranked the #1 third baseman in Arizona and #4 nationally in his class. With continued refinement of his approach and defensive consistency, he has all the ingredients to be a middle-of-the-order bat at Texas A&M and a legitimate MLB Draft prospect JJ Utash (‘27,AZ) with a triple here....
Tournaments | Story | 5/21/2026

Memorial Day Classics Set to Kick Off

Perfect Game Staff
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Southeast Memorial Day East Cobb Baseball will welcome more than 100 teams spanning the 13-17u age groups this weekend as summer baseball gets underway with the highly anticipated PG Southeast Memorial Day Classic, commencing on Thursday, May 21st. This weekend’s annual premier event will feature 11 nationally ranked teams across the five age groups with the No. 9 16u East Cobb Astros headlining the 17u division alongside top prospects such as No. 11 ranked Bryan Johnson Jr. And No. 22 ranked Georgia Tech commit, Malachi Butler. The No. 34 17u ranked 643 DP Cougars will also be a squad to watch as they will look to challenge the Astros for the championship amongst the other 14 17u division teams. While the oldest division will draw lots of attention with highly touted prospects, the 16u field is stacked with 29 total teams including three nationally ranked clubs. Over 30 top 1000...
High School | General | 5/22/2026

Northeast High School Notebook: May 22

Anthony Gambardella
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‘26 RHP Hunter Brown (@NHLionsBaseball - NJ) struck out 1️⃣5️⃣ thru 6 IP w/ 0 BB & 2 H allowed. FB lived 90-92, T93 w/ ASR & late life. Froze bats with his 11/5 CB both early/late in counts (2600rpm). Mixed in fading CH & short/tight SL. #WeAre commit. @PG_Draft#PGHS @PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/NbSSOmCyD0 — Perfect Game Mid-Atlantic (@PGMidAtlantic) April 23, 2026 Hunter Brown - 2026 RHP, North Hunterdon Reg (N.J.) was utterly dominant in his start against Franklin last month, tossing six shutout innings with 15 strikeouts, zero walks and just two hits allowed. The 6-foot-5 215-pound right-hander has pitched to a 0.97 ERA this spring with 78 punchouts over 36 innings of work. Brown has been one of the many northeast arms receiving increasingly more buzz ahead of the MLB Draft this July. Brown’s heater lived in the low-90s throughout the duration of his...
Press Release | Press Release | 5/22/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 65

Ron Wolforth
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The Insidious Lie That Hurts Pitchers Thep Most How many of you have ever had a terrible outing and afterward couldn’t really explain what went wrong? And how many of you have ever had a great outing and couldn’t explain what you did differently either? That gap between what is happening and your awareness of what is happening may be one of the most important gaps in player development. Closing that gap has a name. It is called metacognition. In simple terms, metacognition means thinking about your thinking. It is the ability to understand how you learn, how you perform, how you respond under pressure, and how you make adjustments when things are not going your way. For a pitcher, that matters because no matter how good your coach is, he cannot stand on the mound with you. Your coach cannot take the ball with the bases loaded, two outs, and the best hitter in the league...
College | Rankings | 5/20/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: May 20

Nick Herfordt
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There is a reason the preseason pick to win it all rarely does. College baseball's postseason is a gauntlet — double elimination, best-of-three’s, then a full World Series format — and the team that looks unbeatable in February has to prove it again in May against opponents who have had just as long to get ready. Plenty of programs have entered the tournament as the obvious favorite and gone home early. It happens every year. Nobody should be shocked when it does. Top-ranked teams flaming out in regional weekends happens so many times it has become its own genre of schadenfreude Which makes this particular moment worth noting. The Perfect Game preseason picks to win the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III national titles — Tennessee Wesleyan, UT Tyler, and the University of Lynchburg — are all still alive heading into the final rounds. All three...
College | Story | 5/21/2026

Coppy's Corner: May 21 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
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Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.   Co-Player of the Week: Carson Tinney – University of Texas  As a Notre Dame alumnus, it pained me to see Tinney transfer from the Golden Dome to the University of Texas after an All-American sophomore season for the Irish. He’s picked up in Austin right where he left off in South Bend and is currently hitting .321 AVG, 20 HR, .475 OBP / .695 SLG / 1.170 OPS on the 2026 season. It’s plus right-handed power and a plus arm; with the numbers I have found indicating that Tinney has erased more than half of attempted base stealers over the past two seasons of college baseball. Tinney threw...
Tournaments | Story | 5/19/2026

Best of the Best Event Preview

Jheremy Brown
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In simplistic terms, the Best of The Best tournament is an absolute gauntlet as seemingly every game brings a playoff game atmosphere. Coaches must strategically map out their pitching to ensure they can get through Pool Play while also making sure they have arms to make a deep playoff run. Each and every age group is loaded with the best teams, composed of some of the best players that travel baseball has to offer. The 9u & 10u age groups will respectively have 9 out of the Top 10 Teams within the latest PG National Team Rankings participating in the event. At 9U, LTP-Reign will look to hold on to their #1 ranking but will have plenty of competition with the likes of ZT National Prospects and HTX-Wildcatters 9U looking to take over that #1 spot. In the 10u age group, Elevate National will look to fend off plenty of talent with #2 ranked Kaos National, East Cobb Astros and ZT...
College | Story | 5/19/2026

College Players of the Week: May 19

Vincent Cervino
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May 19th Perfect Game/Co-Players of the Week:  Carson Tinney, C, Texas  The Texas Longhorns just finished off another stellar regular season and are heading to Hoover for the SEC Conference Tournament as the No. 2 Seed this week.  To secure their 2nd place finish, they had to sweep Missouri at home last weekend and did so in large part to the power bat of Carson Tinney.  The 6-4/240 catcher from Castle Pines, CO transferred to Austin after two sensational seasons at Notre Dame and has thrived in his draft year.  In the 3-game set, Tinney collected 7 hits in 13 at-bats, scoring 5 runs, with a double, 3 home runs and he drove in 10 runs all told.  With some of the most prodigious power in the college game this year, Tinney is now slashing .321/.695/.473 with 10 doubles an incredible 20 home runs and 54 RBIs while playing in the most spacious ballpark in the...
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