NCAA DII Regional Rankings
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference kept five teams in the second edition of the 2009 NCAA Division II South Region baseball rankings and now features the top two squads.
Southern Arkansas’ reign as the top team became even stronger after claiming five more victories last week, improving their winning streak to 20 games. The Muleriders, (41-7, 34-5 Region, CBN No. 1) are still the top-ranked team in all three national polls and have clinched at least the second seed in next week’s GSC Tournament. SAU hosts Delta State in the regular season finale this weekend and needs two wins over the Statesmen to capture its first-ever GSC West Division crown.
West Alabama (32-11, 24-10 Region, No. 9) moved up a spot into second despite dropping a game at North Alabama this past weekend. The Tigers did claim a victory over the Lions after sweeping a mid-week doubleheader from visiting Arkansas-Monticello. UWA has clinched at least the third seed in the GSC Tournament and needs just one victory over West Georgia this weekend for its second GSC East Division title in the past three seasons.
Alabama-Huntsville remains in sixth after locking up its first GSC Tournament berth since 2004 this past weekend. The Chargers (26-10, 24-7 Region, No. 30) took all three games at UWG by a combined score of 46-17.
Valdosta State (34-16, 27-16 Region, RV) slid up a notch to No. 8 after winning four of five region games on the road last week. The Blazers defeated Albany State last Tuesday before dropping a one-run decision to Columbus State Wednesday. VSU rebounded quickly, plating 41 runs and sweeping three from Montevallo.
DSU (32-13, 26-11 Region) rounds out the GSC contingent in the Region rankings, holding steady at No. 10. The Statesmen also won five region road contests last week, taking two from UM before sweeping their GSC series from Arkansas Tech. DSU has clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the Conference Tournament and has a chance to claim its 14th West Division crown in the last 15 years with two wins at SAU this weekend.
Tournament champions from the GSC, Sunshine State and Southern Intercollegiate Conferences comprise three of the eight bids to the South Regional, May 14-17. The remaining at-large slots are awarded to the five highest-ranked teams in the region. The top-rated team is eligible to host the four day Tournament, providing it placed a bid to host and have adequate facilities and accommodations for teams and fans.