Only one team in the Preseason Top 10 dropped out over the first weekend as Stanford dropped 2-of-3 to Rice dropping from #9 to #11. With the wins, Rice jumped from #20 to #10.
Stanford’s top prospect Mark Appel (L, 0-1) took the loss in the opening game pitching five innings while giving up five runs (two earned). He was out pitched by Rice starter Austin Kubitza, a Preseason Second Team All-American, who struck out 12 in the win.
Another change in the Top 10 was the swap at the top as #1 and #2 changed spots with one another.
North Carolina, the new #1, took a pair of games from Seton Hall over the weekend to take over the top spot. They are now 3-0 after a win over Coastal Carolina on Monday. Arkansas, now #2, took 2-of-3 from Western Illinois dropping the third game of the series 7-5. After a double header sweep of New Orleans on Tuesday, the Razorbacks now sit at 4-1.
UNC and Arkansas were the number ones in pretty much every preseason poll as both teams look to have strong seasons on the way to Omaha.
The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.
(Top 30 Agate Follows)
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NCAA Div. I Poll (As of Feb. 18, 2013) |
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| Rank School (Record) | Points | Previous |
| 1. North Carolina (2-0) | 495 | 2 |
| 2. Arkansas (2-1) | 493 | 1 |
| 3. Vanderbilt (2-1) | 492 | 3 |
| 4. Louisiana St. (3-0) | 489 | 4 |
| 5. Oregon (3-0) | 486 | 6 |
| 6. UCLA (2-1) | 484 | 5 |
| 7. South Carolina (2-1) | 481 | 7 |
| 8. Kentucky (2-0) | 478 | 8 |
| 9. Oregon St. (3-0) | 475 | 10 |
| 10. Rice (2-1) | 472 | 20 |
| 11. Stanford (1-2) | 471 | 9 |
| 12. Mississippi St. (4-0) | 468 | 13 |
| 13. N.C. State (0-1) | 467 | 11 |
| 14. Oklahoma (4-0) | 465 | 14 |
| 15. Arizona (3-0) | 462 | 18 |
| 16. Mississippi (3-0) | 460 | 25 |
| 17. Georgia Tech. (3-0) | 457 | 17 |
| 18. Florida St. (3-0) | 455 | 19 |
| 19. Cal. St. Fullerton (4-0) | 454 | 23 |
| 20. Miami, Fla. (3-0) | 451 | 28 |
| 21. U.C. Irvine (3-0) | 449 | 30 |
| 22. San Diego St. (3-0) | 446 | — |
| 23. Arizona St. (2-1) | 444 | 16 |
| 24. Florida (2-1) | 442 | 24 |
| 25. Texas (2-1) | 440 | 21 |
| 26. Louisville (2-1) | 438 | 22 |
| 27. Texas A&M (2-1) | 435 | 26 |
| 28. Clemson (2-1) | 433 | 27 |
| 29. Virginia (2-0) | 432 | 35 |
| 30. Southern Miss. (3-0) | 429 | 36 |
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER’S“ NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OF Danny Collins, Troy: Collins had a monster week as he went 8-for-14 over four games with 9 RBI as he collected one homer, two triples, two doubles and 17 total bases. During the second game of the season, he hit for the cycle, Troy’s first since 2009. He also scored nine runs and didn’t strike out.
1B/LHP Clinton Freeman, East Tennessee St.: Freeman went 8-for-10 over three games with three homers, one triple, one double and five RBI. He also scored seven runs. In two relief appearances, he struck out three and earned a save in 1 1/3 innings on the mound.
1B Zack Powers, Florida: Powers went 3-for-6 at the plate with two grand slams and 9 RBI for the Gators. Powers hit both grand slams during a 16-5 win over Duke and also collected all 9 RBI as well. He joined Preston Tucker as the only Florida players in history to accomplish this feat in one game.
RHP Trevor Foss, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: Foss recorded 15 strikeouts while allowing only three hits and no runs in a complete game shutout of Texas-Pan American. He only allowed one walk.
RHP Buck Farmer, Georgia Tech.: Farmer set a career high with 14 strikeouts in eight dominant innings during a 3-0 win over Akron on opening day. He scattered four singles, and just one runner advanced past first base.
RHP Jeremy Null, Western Carolina: Null struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings against Washington State. His 13 strikeouts were the most by a Catamount pitcher since Matt Benedict had 13 during the 2011 season.
Poll and Players of the Week courtesy Baseball Collegiate Newspaper
This post was written by
Eric Bynum is Managing Editor here at Baseball de World and an ESL teacher in South Korea. He has played and/or written about baseball for the past 30 years and is an avid Atlanta Braves fan. Eric also writes for Braves Baseball World and for Call to the Pen.
