ANGELO STATE TOPS NCBWA DIVISION II POLL

PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) A combined 9-2 performance on the diamond among the poll's top-5 teams offered very little in terms of change this week as Angelo State, Mount Olive, Tampa and Missouri Southern split the 19 first-place votes in Wednesday's Week 4 release of the NCBWA Division II Top 25.


Angelo State assumed its seat at the head of the table for the ninth-straight week dating back to last season, while Mount Olive stole a pair of first-place votes away from the Rams en route to hopping up one spot in the ranking to No. 2. Idle Tampa fell a spot to No. 3, while Missouri Southern climbed one spot to No. 4 after posting a series win at Washburn on Saturday and Sunday. Colorado Mesa dipped a spot to No. 5 despite scoring 58 runs in doubleheader sweep of Adams State on the road.


Catawba re-entered the listing after a week's hiatus, while Augustana checked back into the poll at No. 22 after a three-week absence. Four teams made their season debut in the NCBWA Division II Top 25, including Illinois-Springfield, Northwest Nazarene, Valdosta State and Northwood.


It is Illinois-Springfield's first appearance in the Top 25 since the final poll of the 2019 campaign, while Valdosta State returns to the Top 25 for the first time since March 14, 2017 (Week 4). Northwood is nationally-ranked for the first time since the final poll of the 2018 season, and Northwest Nazarene is among the NCBWA's Top 25 teams in NCAA Division II for the first time in the 19-year history of the poll.


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.