DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 22nd year with its 2019 weekly surveys and this week UCLA is the unanimous No. 1 selection and remains in the top spot for the fourth-straight week.
The Bruins remain the No. 1 selection this week after going 3-1 last week, including a series win over then-No. 2 Stanford. Another Pac-12 foe in Oregon State takes over the No. 2 spot in the poll after a 4-1 week, including a series sweep of Utah. Georgia jumps up four spots to round out the top three after a 4-1 week and a series win over then-No. 3 Vanderbilt.
LSU, Arkansas and East Carolina all joined the top 10 this week. Overall, there are five SEC teams in the top 10, three Pac-12 squads and one AAC team.
The highest risers this week include Georgia Tech, who went from no rank to No. 24 after a 3-1 week, including a victory at Auburn and a series win over UNC. Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss both jumped into the top 30 from receiving votes last week, with Florida Atlantic at No. 27 and Southern Miss at No. 30. UC Irvine jumped up five after a sweep of Long Beach State and sits at No. 16 this week, while ECU also gained five spots after a 3-1 week to crack the top 10 at No. 10.
The 2019 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 40 listing, the remainder of the polls feature a national Top 30.
This week's current survey has representation by eight different conferences among the 299 baseball-playing schools in the 2019 NCAA Division I ranks. The rankings of 2018 had 15 different DI conferences rated at least one week. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to ncbwa.com.
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.