College Top 25

UCLA's Michael Toglia (Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

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In Baseball America’s final regular season Top 25, UCLA remains No. 1 after sweeping a rain-shortened series at Oregon to clinch the Pac-12 title. The Bruins have been No. 1 for 11 straight weeks.

UCLA won the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2015 and now enters the NCAA Tournament on a 10-game winning streak. The Bruins are 27-3 over the last two months.

Oklahoma State climbs into the top 10 after winning the Big 12 Tournament. It is the Cowboys' highest ranking of the season.

One new team enters the Top 25 this week. Indiana State joins at No. 25 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Dallas Baptist, which Indiana State beat twice to win the title, drops out of the rankings.

The SEC leads all conferences with seven teams in the Top 25. The ACC and Big 12 follow with four ranked teams.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25. Records indicated are through May 26.

Updated on: 5/26/2019

1 –
Last: 1
UCLA
Pac-12
Notes:
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 47-8, 22-5 in Pac-12 (8-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 13-0

Results:
May 23-25: @ Oregon: W 4-2, W 6-5

UCLA finished off a Pac-12 championship season with a two-game, weather-shortened sweep of Oregon. In Thursday’s opener, righty Ryan Garcia gave the Bruins another quality outing, throwing seven innings, giving up three hits and two runs. Tied 2-2 in the eighth inning, first baseman Michael Toglia connected for a two-run homer, putting his team up for good. In the second game of the series, the Bruins did all of their scoring in a single frame, a six-run third inning, with the big blow coming on a three-run double off the bat of catcher Noah Cardenas. UCLA is one of a handful of teams that appears nearly unstoppable heading into postseason play.
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Last: 2
Vanderbilt
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 4-0
Overall: 49-10, 23-7 in SEC (15-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 11-2

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 22: Auburn: W 11-1
May 23: (5) Mississippi State: W 1-0
May 25: (16) Louisiana State: W 13-4
May 26: (21) Mississippi: W 11-10

Vanderbilt pulled off the impressive double-dip of winning both the SEC regular season and tournament titles. It capped off its week in Hoover with a wild walk-off win over Mississippi. The Commodores trailed 6-0 after a half-inning of play, and still trailed 9-3 after three innings. But a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of Pat DeMarco, got Vandy back into the game. The teams traded single runs over the next three half-innings, before the scoring went quiet until the bottom of the ninth, when the decisive blow was delivered. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Vanderbilt loaded the bases with three walks before Philip Clarke came through with an RBI single.
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Last: 3
Stanford
Pac-12
Notes:
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 41-11, 22-7 in Pac-12 (5-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 12-1-1

Results:
May 23-25: @ Arizona State: L 6-5, W 6-4, W 3-2

Stanford finished off its regular season with a series win at Arizona State. After dropping the first game Thursday, the Cardinal battled back to win the final two. In game 2, Will Matthiessen did just about everything. On the mound, he threw 5.2 innings, giving up two hits and one run with no walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, he went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, a walk and three RBI. The win in the series finale featured a furious comeback. Down 2-0 in the ninth with two outs on the board, shortstop Tim Tawa connected for a three-run homer to put Stanford on top for good. Second baseman Duke Kinamon chipped in with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and lefthander Erik Miller gave the team a solid start in allowing four hits and two runs in 6.2 innings.
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Last: 4
Arkansas
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 41-17, 20-10 in SEC (16-10 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 11-3

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 22: (21) Mississippi: W 5-3
May 23: (6) Georgia: L 3-1
May 24: (21) Mississippi: L 3-2

Arkansas began its SEC Tournament run with a 5-3 win Wednesday against Ole Miss. After freshman lefthander Patrick Wicklander went 4.1 innings, the Razorbacks’ bullpen turned in fantastic work. The quartet of Kevin Kopps, Cody Scroggins, Jacob Kostyshock and Matt Cronin combined to give up three hits and one run over the final 4.2 innings. Offensively, Arkansas managed just five hits, but made the most of them. Second baseman Jack Kenley had one hit, but he drove in three runs - two on a single and one later on a fielder’s choice. After that game the Arkansas bats went quiet, leading to its departure. In losses to Georgia and Mississippi, the Razorbacks managed just three runs on 10 hits.
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Last: 5
Mississippi State
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 46-13, 20-10 in SEC (19-8 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 11-2

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 22: (16) Louisiana State: W 6-5 (17)
May 23: (2) Vanderbilt: L 1-0
May 24: (16) Louisiana State: L 12-2 (7)

Mississippi State had something of a bizarre stay at the SEC Tournament. Its two games against Louisiana State couldn’t have been more different. The first time around, it took 17 innings before the Bulldogs walked off with a win. In the 16th, LSU scored a run on a sac fly, only for Mississippi State to answer back with a run in the bottom half on a Gunner Halter RBI single. In that win, it got outstanding work from righthander Cole Gordon, who threw five shutout innings. Two days later, the game lasted less than half the time, with the Tigers run-ruling the Bulldogs. In between those games, they were stymied by Vanderbilt pitching, led by six scoreless innings from Drake Fellows.
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Last: 6
Georgia
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 44-15, 21-9 in SEC (12-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 12-2

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 22: (17) Texas A&M: W 2-0
May 23: (4) Arkansas: W 3-1
May 25: (21) Mississippi: L 5-3

Georgia put together a very solid week down in Hoover, highlighted by wins led by outstanding pitching. Against Texas A&M, righthander Tim Elliott threw threw 5.2 scoreless innings on just two hits before giving way to lefthander Justin Glover and righthander Zac Kristofak, who combined to throw 3.1 perfect innings to close out the win. Freshman righthander Cole Wilcox stole the show the next day against Arkansas, throwing 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and one run (unearned) with four walks and five strikeouts. Lefthander Ryan Webb and righthander Aaron Schunk finished off that win with 2.2 scoreless innings. The Bulldogs fell short of getting to the championship game with a loss Saturday to Ole Miss, but all told, they won a couple of games and didn’t tax their pitching all that much. All things considered, that’s a good week.
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Last: 8
Georgia Tech
ACC
Notes:
Previous week: 3-1
Overall: 41-17, 17-10 in ACC (10-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series 11-2

Results
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament (Durham)
May 22: Notre Dame: W 12-6
May 24: Duke: W 5-4
May 25: (13) North Carolina State: W 9-2
May 26: North Carolina: L 10-2

Georgia Tech enjoyed a nice showing in Durham, getting to the championship game before falling to North Carolina. Its most impressive win of the week was the victory over NC State that vaulted the Yellow Jackets into the title game. They got a great pitching effort from righthander Jonathan Hughes, who threw five innings in relief, allowing just two hits and one run. Offensively, the Georgia Tech offense turned a close game into a near-blowout with a five-run eighth inning that featured two-RBI hits from Baron Radcliff and Nick Wilhite. An outstanding season in Atlanta will continue with a home regional next weekend.
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Last: 7
East Carolina
AAC
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 43-15, 20-4 in AAC (2-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 11-1

Results:
American Athletic Conference Tournament (Clearwater, Fla.)
May 21: Wichita State: L 6-2
May 22: Houston: W 13-2
May 24: Wichita State: L 12-5

East Carolina’s stay in Clearwater was a bit shorter than expected, as a pair of losses to upstart Wichita State sidetracked it short of the tournament title the PIrates likely needed in order to stake a claim to a top-eight overall seed. Sandwiched between those losses, however, was an impressive blowout win against Houston. Lefthander Jake Agnos was strong, throwing seven innings, giving up four hits and one run with four walks and seven strikeouts. Offensively, designated hitter Thomas Francisco went 3-for-3 and catcher Jake Washer was 3-for-4 with two home runs. ECU will now go into the postseason as a regional host for the second straight season.
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Last: 9
Texas Tech
Big 12
Notes:
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 39-17, 16-8 in Big 12 (10-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 10-2

Results:
Big 12 Tournament (Oklahoma City)
May 22: Kansas State: W 7-4
May 23: (19) West Virginia: L 5-1
May 24: Kansas: W 7-5
May 25: (19) West Virginia: W 10-3
May 25: (19) West Virginia: L 2-0

Texas Tech finished off a busy week in Oklahoma City one win shy of reaching the title game. At times throughout the week, it showed the type of quick-strike offensive ability that it clearly possesses. In their opening game against K-State, the Red Raiders scored five runs in the first three innings to chase talented lefthander Jordan Wicks from the game early. Against Kansas, they took it to hard-nosed righthander Ryan Cyr to the tune of seven runs on nine hits in seven innings with the help of home runs from right fielder Gabe Holt, shortstop Josh Jung and left fielder Kurt Wilson. Holt’s homer was part of a 3-hit day. In the win against WVU to force the second semifinal, the Tech offense feasted as things got late, scoring eight runs in the final five innings.
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Last: 15
Oklahoma State
Big 12
Notes:
Last week: 4-1
Overall: 36-18, 14-9 in Big 12 (13-5 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 9-4

Results:
Big 12 Tournament (Oklahoma City)
May 22: Texas Christian: W 5-2
May 23: (18) Baylor: W 5-0
May 25: Texas Christian: L 13-6
May 26: Texas Christian: W 7-6 (10)
May 26: (19) West Virginia: W 5-2

Oklahoma State withstood the ringer that is the Big 12 Tournament to come away with a tourney title. When they needed a standout start on the mound in the final, they got it from righthander Brett Standlee, who threw seven innings, giving up seven hits and one run, which went a long way toward preventing taxing an already taxed bullpen even more. Offensively, the breakthrough came in the fifth inning, when shortstop Andrew Navigato connected for a two-run double that gave OSU the lead for the first time in the game and for good. Now, the Cowboys will move on to hosting a regional as a send-off for Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
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Last: 10
Louisville
ACC
Notes:
Last week: 3-1
Overall 43-13, 21-9 in ACC (9-3 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-4

Results:
May 14: @ Indiana: W 8-7
May 16-18: Florida State: W 14-1, L 14-3, W 11-0
Upcoming
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Durham

Louisville came and went in Durham very quickly, going 0-2 with losses to Boston College and Clemson, scoring two runs on four hits in 18 innings of play. In the game against the Tigers, the Cardinals didn’t have a single hit against lefthander Mat Clark until pinch-hitter Zach Britton connected for a solo homer in the ninth inning. While it was a disappointing couple of days for Louisville, it doesn’t really affect their postseason. On the strength of winning the ACC regular season title and great marks against upper echelon competition, the Cardinals will still be playing at home this weekend.
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Last: 21
Mississippi
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 4-2
Overall: 37-22, 16-14 in SEC (14-13 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 9-4-1

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 21: Missouri: W 2-1
May 22: (4) Arkansas: L 5-3
May 23: (17) Texas A&M: W 1-0
May 24: (4) Arkansas: W 3-2
May 25: (6) Georgia: W 5-3
May 26: (2) Vanderbilt: L 11-10

What a week for the Rebels in Hoover. After taking a loss in their first game of the double elimination portion of the tournament, they rallied back to win three straight to get to the final, where they were walked off by Vanderbilt. Ole Miss got outstanding pitching throughout the week, holding its first five opponents to a combined 11 runs. Pitching has been the biggest question mark with this team this season, but if it gets pitching like that, it can beat just about anyone. Even though the week ended just short of lifting the trophy, the Rebels did enough to earn itself a spot as a regional host for this weekend.
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Last: 12
UC Santa Barbara
Big West
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 45-9, 19-5 in Big West (3-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 11-2-1

Results
May 23-25: Cal Poly: L 3-0, L 4-3, W 7-0

UCSB went into the weekend needing just one win to clinch the Big West title and two to lock up a spot as a regional host. But it lost the first two games of its series against Cal Poly, extending its losing streak against the Mustangs to 11 games, to set up a winner-take-all game Saturday for the Big West title. The Gauchos left no doubt, cruising to a 7-0 victory win their first Big West championship since 1986.
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14
North Carolina
ACC
Notes:
Last week: 4-0
Overall: 42-17, 17-13 in ACC (3-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 9-4

Results:
ACC Tournament (Durham)
May 22: Virginia: W 3-2 (10)
May 24: (14) Miami: W 7-5 (11)
May 25: Boston College: W 13-5
May 26: (8) Georgia Tech: W 10-2

After last week getting blown out at home in the final two games of its series against rival North Carolina State, UNC bounced back in a big way this week at the ACC Tournament. It needed extra innings in both of its pool play games, but pulled out wins against Virginia and Miami to advance to the semifinals, where it took care of business against a Cinderella Boston College team. Then, in the final, it routed Georgia Tech to capture its first ACC Tournament title since 2013. Slugger Michael Busch was named tournament MVP after hitting three home runs on the week, including one in the championship game.
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Last: 16
Louisiana State
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 37-24, 17-13 in SEC (8-12 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-5

Results:
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 21: South Carolina: W 8-6
May 22: (5) Mississippi State: L 6-5 (17)
May 23: Auburn: W 4-3
May 24: (5) Mississippi State: W 12-2 (7)
May 25: (1) Vanderbilt: L 13-4

LSU came to Hoover with work to do to secure a home regional. The Tigers came away with three big victories before running out of gas against Vanderbilt in the semifinals. After opening the tournament with a win against South Carolina, LSU lost an epic 17-inning game against rival Mississippi State, which set the record for the longest game in SEC Tournament history. But LSU was able to bounce back, walking off Auburn the next day on a wild pitch and an error. The got revenge on the Bulldogs, trouncing them in seven innings to advance to the semifinals and all but lock up a spot as a regional host. It was a wild, but ultimately successful, week in Hoover for the Tigers.
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Last: 11
Oregon State
Pac-12
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 36-18-1, 21-8 in Pac-12 (5-4-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 9-2-1

Results:
May 23-25: Southern California: L 2-0, W 5-2, L 5-0

After a series loss to USC to wrap up its regular season, Oregon State will go into the postseason limping a little bit. In the win in game 2, righthander Dylan Pearce threw seven innings, giving up six hits and two runs. He was supported by three OSU homers - one each from catcher Adley Rustchman, shortstop Beau Philip and right fielder Zack Zalesky. In the two losses, the Beavers were shut out over 18 innings on just five total hits. Defense was also an issue in game one of the series, when both of the USC runs were unearned against righthander Bryce Fehmel, who otherwise was very good in
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Last: 19
West Virginia
Big 12
Notes:
Last week: 3-2
Overall: 37-20, 13-11 in Big 12 (9-7 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-3

Results:
Big 12 Tournament (Oklahoma City.)
May 22: Kansas: W 12-8
May 23: (9) Texas Tech: W 5-1
May 25: (9) Texas Tech: L 10-3
May 25: (9) Texas Tech: W 2-0
May 26: (15) Oklahoma State: L 5-2

West Virginia faced a difficult path in the Big 12 Tournament but navigated it well, reaching the championship game before falling to Oklahoma State, one of the hottest teams in the country. The Mountaineers faced Texas Tech three times and won twice, both times holding the Red Raiders’ powerful offense in check. Ace Alek Manoah came up big in that regard Thursday and righthanders Ryan Bergert and Zach Ottinger followed suit in the second semifinal game Saturday, combining for a one-hit shutout.
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Last: 13
North Carolina State
ACC
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall 42-17, 18-12 in ACC (5-6 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-3

Results:
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament (Durham)
May 23: Wake Forest: W 6-5
May 24: Florida State: L 11-0 (7)
May 25: (8) Georgia Tech: L 9-2

NC State opened the ACC Tournament with a victory against Wake Forest on Thursday, which, when combined with Wake’s win against Florida State and the ACC’s pool-play format, rendered Friday’s game against the Seminoles meaningless in the bracket. The Wolfpack got blown out in that one and then lost their semifinal matchup against Georgia Tech. After winning a series at North Carolina last week, this was a step back for NC State, particularly giving up 20 runs over the last two games.
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Last: 14
Miami
ACC
Notes:
Last week: 1-1
Overall 39-18, 18-12 in ACC (3-9 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-4

Results:
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament (Durham)
May 23: Virginia: W 10-3
May 24: North Carolina: L 7-5 (11)

It was a mixed bag for the Hurricanes in the ACC Tournament. To begin their stay in Durham, they collected a convincing win against Virginia, led by six combined hits from the top three batters in the order - outfielder Jordan Lala, second baseman Anthony Vilar and shortstop Freddy Zamora, and a two-run homer from right fielder Adrian Del Castillo to get the scoring started in the first. But given a chance to really solidify its place as a regional host and advance in the ACC Tournament, Miami came up short against North Carolina. The Canes jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but let the Tar Heels tie it to send it into extras, where UNC scored two runs in the 11th to deliver the winning margin.
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Last: 17
Texas A&M
SEC
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 37-21-1, 16-13-1 in SEC (11-12 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 9-2-1

Results
Southeastern Conference Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
May 21: Florida: W 8-7 (10)
May 22: (6) Georgia: L 2-0
May 23: (21) Mississippi: L 1-0

Texas A&M came into the week looking to solidify its position as a regional host. It took care of business in the single-elimination game against Florida on Tuesday. Tied 7-7 in the tenth, the Aggies walked it off thanks to an RBI single from left fielder Jonathan Ducoff. Two innings earlier, Ducoff connected for a three-run homer that put his team in front at the time. In the final two games of their time in Hoover, the Aggies’ offense just couldn’t do enough to support outstanding outings from their pitchers. Against Georgia, freshman lefthander Chris Weber carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but the Bulldogs won 2-0 on a walk-off two-run homer from Cam Shepherd. Against Mississippi, lefthander John Doxakis threw eight no-hit innings before being lifted, but the Aggies took another tough loss when the Rebels scored a run in the ninth on a Cole Zabowski double. Perhaps it doesn’t host a regional, but with the way it can pitch, A&M is not a No. 2 seed anyone wants to see.
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Last: 23
Fresno State
Mountain West
Notes:
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 38-14-1, 20-8-1 in Mountain West (0-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 7-3-2

Results:
Mountain West Conference Tournament (Reno, Nev.)
May 23: Nevada: W 4-3
May 24: Nevada-Las Vegas: W 11-1 (7)
May 25: Nevada-Las Vegas: W 12-6

The Bulldogs won their first Mountain West Tournament title since joining the conference in 2013. They swept through the tournament, rolling past UNLV in their final two games of the weekend to extend their winning streak to seven games. Fresno State’s pitching staff held opponents in the tournament to 10 runs (nine earned) on 17 hits, a MWC Tournament record. Now, the Bulldogs are headed to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012, which was their last year as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
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Last: 18
Baylor
Big 12
Notes:
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 34-17, 14-8 in Big 12 (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 8-3-1

Results:
Big 12 Tournament (Oklahoma City)
May 22: Oklahoma: W 8-2
May 23: (15) Oklahoma State: L 5-0
May 24: Texas Christian: L 5-2
Upcoming

Baylor really took it to Oklahoma in its first game in Oklahoma City, coming away with an 8-2 victory. Lefthander Paul Dickens was really good in that one, throwing 6.1 innings, giving up six hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts. On offense, the Bears brought their home run swings as they had three of them, one each from catcher Shea Langeliers, DH Andy Thomas and left fielder Cole Haring. Against Oklahoma State, Baylor managed just three hits against the Oklahoma State duo of Jensen Elliott and Peyton Battenfield. Against TCU, it scored two runs off of lefty starter Brandon Williamson, but nothing more. With a great week in OKC, Baylor could have done what West Virginia did, and put itself back in position to host a regional, but it didn’t quite get there.
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Last: 25
Creighton
Big East
Notes:
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 38-11, 14-4 in Big East (0-0 vs. Top 25)
Weekend Series: 8-3

Results:
Big East Tournament (Mason, Ohio)
May 23: Seton Hall: W 10-9
May 24: St. John’s: W 17-13
May 25: Xavier: W 9-8

The Bluejays swept through the Big East Tournament, treating it much the same way they’ve treated Big East play all season long. Creighton’s offense showed up in a big way, scoring a total of 36 runs in three games on the weekend and blasting six home runs in Friday’s victory against St. John’s. Shortstop Jack Strunc was named tournament MVP after going 9-for-14 on the weekend and hitting a grand slam in the championship game against Xavier.
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Last: 20
Indiana
Big Ten
Notes:
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 36-21, 17-7 in Big Ten (2-4 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-2
Results:
Big Ten Tournament (Omaha)
May 22: Iowa: L 4-2
May 23: Minnesota: L 9-4

Indiana had a tough week in Omaha, but it remains in the rankings on the strength of winning the Big Ten regular season title. Next weekend, the Hoosiers will be making their sixth regional trip in seven seasons, spanning three different head coaches. With a pitching staff led by veteran righthander Pauly Milto and the Big Ten pitcher of the year Andrew Saalfrank and an offense that can score runs in bunches, IU will not be a fun No. 2 seed to deal with in a regional.
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25
Indiana State
MVC
Notes:
Last week: 5-1
Overall 41-16, 13-8 in MVC (2-1 vs. Top 25)
Weekend series: 10-3

Results:
Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (Normal, Ill.)
May 22: Evansville: W 7-0
May 23: Illinois State: L 10-7
May 24: Southern Illinois: W 4-1
May 24: Illinois State: W 10-6
May 25: (22) Dallas Baptist: W 9-5, W 16-3 (8)

The Missouri Valley Conference has been a three-horse race all season, and it continued to play out that way over the final weeks of the season. Dallas Baptist and Illinois State finished one game ahead of Indiana State in the regular season, but the Sycamores got the final word, with a tournament title that didn’t come easy. They had to beat Illinois State to get to the final, and once they got there, they had to take down DBU twice to lift the trophy. The week was punctuated by a blowout win in the final that featured a 4-for-5 day with a double and home run from shortstop Clay Dungan and a three-hit day from left fielder C.J. Huntley.
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