Kentucky Tops Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll – April 2

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Kentucky (27-2) has been ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division I baseball poll by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

It marks the first time in the history of the poll, which goes back to 1957, that the Wildcats have been No. 1. In fact, no poll has ever ranked Kentucky as the top team in the nation until now.

Off to the best overall record in school history, the Wildcats are 7-2 in the Southeastern Conference for first place. Over the past weekend, Kentucky claimed its first series at Georgia since the 2000 season, winning two of three.

Florida, ranked No. 1 the previous seven polls, slipped to second after losing two of three at Mississippi. The Gators are 24-4 overall and 6-3 in the SEC (tied for second).

Poll Notes: Major changes took place in the poll this week after key games. Arizona swept a 3-game series at home against Stanford. The Cardinal has now lost four of their last five games. Louisiana St. swept a 3-game series against Arkansas. Oregon swept a 3-game series at home against Arizona St. Texas lost two of three against California. Several teams have been red-hot. UCLA has won 18 of its last 20 games, Central Florida 10 of its last 11, Baylor 11 in a row (leads the Big 12 Conference with a 9-0 record), New Mexico St. 13 in a row, Sam Houston St. 8 straight, LSU 5 consecutive and Arizona 5 in a row. Four teams fell out of the top 30 this week in Arizona St. (1-4 last week), Georgia (1-3), Missouri St. (2-2) and St. Louis (2-2). New to the poll is San Diego (23-7, 5-1 West Coast), New Mexico St. (22-8), U.C. Irvine (17-9, 3-0 Big West), and Florida Atlantic (19-10, 8-1 Sun Belt).

The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.