LSU Takes Over Top Spot In First Regular Season Rankings
TUCSON, Ariz. – Defending national champion Louisiana St. is ranked No. 1 in the first regular season “Collegiate Baseball” newspaper NCAA Division I baseball poll after sweeping Centenary three straight over the past weekend.
The Tigers (3-0) took over the top spot when No. 1 pre-season selection Texas dropped two of three at home to start the season against New Mexico. LSU captured its 11th straight season-opening series dating back to 2000.
In game two of the series, Tiger Head Coach Paul Mainieri celebrated the 1,000th win of his coaching career during a 25-8 win. His 28-year career includes stops at St. Thomas University in Miami (1983-88), Air Force (1989-94), Notre Dame (1995-2006) and LSU (2007-present).
Poll Notes: New Mexico stunned Texas by winning two of three in Austin against the Longhorns to start the season. It marked the first time in school history that the Lobos had beaten a No. 1 ranked team. Prior to the historic victories, New Mexico was 0-9 all-time when playing the No. 1 team in the nation. All nine games were against Arizona St. After Texas won the opener, 6-2, the Lobos captured the final two contests, 6-5 and 3-1.
Another red-hot team to start the season was Oregon. The Ducks knocked off highly regarded Cal. St. Fullerton to start the season in Fullerton, Calif. and followed that off with a win at Long Beach St. before losing at Pepperdine. New to the poll this week are New Mexico and Oregon. Two teams dropped out in Rice (0-3) and Minnesota (2-1).
The “Collegiate Baseball” newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s
NCAA Div. I Poll
(As of Feb. 22, 2010)
Rank School (Record) Points Previous
1. Louisiana St. (3-0) 492 2
2. Arizona St. (3-0) 490 5
3. Georgia Tech. (3-0) 488 6
4. Texas (1-2) 487 1
5. Virginia (2-1) 486 3
6. Cal. St. Fullerton (1-2) 484 4
7. Florida St. (3-0) 483 7
8. U.C. Irvine (3-0) 482 8
9. Florida (3-0) 479 9
10. Oregon St. (2-1) 476 10
11. Miami, Fla. (3-0) 473 12
12. North Carolina (3-0) 471 13
13. Ohio St. (3-0) 469 14
14. Texas Christian (3-0) 465 15
15. Clemson (3-0) 464 16
16. Louisville (3-0) 461 19
17. UCLA (3-0) 459 20
18. Stanford (3-0) 457 26
19. New Mexico (2-1) 454 –
20. Oklahoma (4-0) 451 25
21. Coastal Carolina (2-1) 449 17
22. East Carolina (1-2) 447 18
23. South Carolina (3-0) 444 28
24. San Diego (3-1) 443 24
25. Oregon (2-1) 441 –
26. Southern Miss. (2-1) 435 21
27. Wichita St. (0-0) 430 27
28. Mississippi (2-1) 429 22
29. Texas A&M (3-0) 427 29
30. Arkansas (2-1) 425 23