March 3, 2008
WACO, Texas -- Baylor baseball climbed two spots to No. 11 in the latest Baseball America Top 25, released Monday by publication. It is the second consecutive week that Baylor (7-0) has moved up two spots; the Bears were 15th in the preseason poll and 13th last week.
The Bears defeated Texas Southern 10-1, Illinois 20-6, Illinois-Chicago 5-4 and Stephen F. Austin 4-3 on the week. Baylor has matched the 1987 and 1993 squads for the best start by a Baylor team since the 1984 Bears opened 13-0. Furthermore, Baylor is the only undefeated team remaining in the Big 12 Conference.
The top three spots remained unchanged from last week - Arizona, Mississippi and UCLA. Arizona State climbed two spots to No. 4, followed by North Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Miami, Fla., South Carolina and Long Beach State. Texas (No. 16) and Oklahoma State (No. 21) join Missouri and Baylor to give the Big 12 Conference four schools in this week's Top 25.
Baylor hosts Louisiana Tech for a pair of midweek games at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and the Bulldogs meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CST and Wednesday at 4 p.m.
BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25
1. Arizona (5-1) 1
2. Mississippi (8-0) 2
3. UCLA (5-1) 3
4. Arizona State (7-0) 6
5. North Carolina (7-1) 4
6. Missouri (6-2) 5
7. Vanderbilt (5-2) 7
8. Miami, Fla. (5-1) 9
9. South Carolina (5-1) 10
10. Long Beach State (5-2) 11
11. BAYLOR (7-0) 13
12. Oregon State (3-3) 12
13. Rice (6-2) 15
14. Virginia (10-0) 16
15. Michigan (4-3) 8
16. Texas (6-2) 14
17. San Diego (5-4) 17
18. California (5-1) NR
19. UC Irvine (7-0) NR
20. Florida State (7-0) NR
21. Oklahoma State (7-1) 21
22. Tulane (6-2) 18
23. Clemson (5-2) 19
24. Kentucky (9-0) NR
25. Wichita State (3-3) 20
Dropped Out: San Diego State (22), Cal State Fullerton (23), Fresno State (24), Louisiana-Lafayette (25).
