LINDENWOOD TOPS NCBWA DIVISION II POLL

PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) Five different teams raked in at least one first-place vote, but it was undefeated Lindenwood that emerged from the chaos to assume its perch atop this week's NCBWA Division II Top 25. The Lions ascent to the No. 1 position officially put an end to Angelo State's 11-week reign atop the national poll.


Colorado Mesa, which has scored 15.0 runs per game over its current 6-game win streak, pulled in a pair of first-place votes to nestle into the No. 2 spot, while two South Region squads Tampa and Lee · divvied up 12 of the remaining first-place votes and are ranked Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Mount Olive, which swept a four-game series at Chowan over the weekend, nabbed one first-place vote on the way to occupying the No. 7 position in the ranking.


Two teams re-entered the poll after previously appearing in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 already this season. UNC Pembroke is at No. 18 after stretching its win streak to 11 games with a road series sweep at Lander, while Millersville is back in the ranking after a two-week absence following a home-and-home series win against East Stroudsburg.


A pair of squads from the state of Minnesota made their 2021 debut in the national ranking. Minnesota State is in for the first time since the 2020 preseason edition of the poll, while Minnesota-Crookston graces the NCBWA Division II Top 25 for the first time in the ranking's 19-year history. St. Thomas Aquinas returns to the poll for the first time since Feb. 19, 2019 (Week 1).


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.