VANDERBILT TOPS NCBWA DIVISION I POLL

DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 22nd year with its 2019 weekly surveys and for the second-straight week Vanderbilt holds the top spot, followed by Oregon State at No. 2 and Stanford at No. 3.


Vanderbilt went 4-1 last week to remain at the top spot for the week, but Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA, the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the poll, respectively, all received first place votes.


Oregon State remains at No. 2 for the second-straight week after going 2-0-1 last week at the Seattle Baseball Showcase. Stanford jumped up to No. 3 after taking three-of-four from then-No. 12 Texas. UCLA dropped back one spot to No. 4 after going 2-1 in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic and Mississippi State rounds out the top five after a 5-0 week.


Texas Tech is a newcomer to the top 10 this week, jumping up to No. 8 from No. 11 after an undefeated week, beating San Diego State twice on the road and Wichita State three times at home.


Overall, the top 10 consists of five SEC schools, three Pac-12 programs, one ACC school and one Big 12 school.


Big risers this week include Texas A&M, who jumped up four spots from No. 26 to No. 22, while Arizona State, one of just two undefeated programs remaining also improved four spots to No. 20. Oregon also made a big jump this week, moving into the rankings at No. 30 from previously receiving votes.


The 2019 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 40 listing, the remainder of the polls feature a national Top 30.


This weeks current survey has representation by eight different conferences among the 299 baseball-playing schools in the 2019 NCAA Division I ranks. The rankings of 2018 had 15 different DI conferences rated at least one week. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to ncbwa.com.


Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.