Mankato, Minn.  ---  The Minnesota State baseball team is rated 23rd in the most recent poll issued by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association of America (NCBWA).

Southern Arkansas, which received 12 first-place votes, tops the chart. New Mexico Highlands, the top-rated team in the Central Region, is rated ninth nationally.  

St. Cloud State is 13th and is the top NSIC team in the poll.  MSU was rated 22nd in last week’s poll and has now been rated in the top 25 six weeks in a row.

The Mavericks, who stand 22-6 on the year and have won seven consecutive games, are also rated third in the Central Region by the NCBWA (see below for complete poll information).

MSU, which owns a 11-1 record in NSIC action, continues league play this week with a doubleheader scheduled at Minnesota Duluth Wednesday and back-to-back doubleheaders at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., Saturday and Sunday.

2010 NCBWA Poll - April 6, 2010
# School (1sts)    W-L    Pts    LW            
1 Southern Arkansas (12)    32-3    393    2
2 Central Missouri (1)    27-3    368    3
3 UC San Diego (3)    30-5    357    1
4 Tampa, Fla.    34-5    345    5
5 West Chester, Pa.    26-5    331    6
6 Florida Southern    30-5    314    7
7 Mount Olive, N.C.    32-7    303    4
8 Abilene Christian, Texas    32-8    273    8
9 New Mexico Highlands    25-6    261    10
10 Grand Valley State, Mich.    22-5    241    9
11 Emporia State, Kans.    24-8    205    12
12 Cal State Dominguez Hills    27-10    181    15
13 St. Cloud State, Minn.    24-5    176    13
14 Francis Marion, S.C.    28-8    169    T17
15 Georgia College & State    23-10    149    RV
16 Columbus State, Ga.    27-7    143    14
17 Kutztown, Pa.    20-6    133    20
18 Valdosta State, Ga.    27-11    109    T17
19 Adelphi, N.Y.    17-6    94    RV
20 Erskine, S.C.    33-9    92    23
21 Chico State, Calif.    23-11    88    21
22 Southern Indiana    25-8    85    24
23 Minnesota State    22-6    75    22
24 Delta State, Miss.    24-10    53    RV
25 Southern Conn. State    17-6    32    NR

Dropped out: #11 USC Aiken, #16 Northern Kentucky, #19 Franklin Pierce, #25 Nebraska-Omaha.

Also receiving votes: Nebraska-Omaha (20-8) 27; Concord, W. Va. (14-2) 23; No. Kentucky (21-10) 23; Hawaii Pacific (22-7) 21; UNC Pembroke (24-9) 21; Franklin Pierce (17-9) 19; USC Aiken (24-12) 11; Winona State (17-5) 10; Catawba (28-7) 7; Dixie State (23-9) 6; Fla. Tech (27-10) 5; Incarnate Word (26-9) 5; No. Georgia (24-11) 5; Augustana (21-10) 4; California, Pa. (19-10) 2; New Haven (17-6) 2; West Florida (26-13) 1.

Central Region
   School (1sts)    W-L    Pts    LW              
1    N. Mexico Highlands (6)    25-6    76    T1
2    St. Cloud State (2)    24-5    73    T1
3    Minnesota State    22-6    58    3
4    Augustana, S.D.    21-10    49    6
5    Winona State, Minn.    17-5    48    4
6    Mesa State, Colo.    18-11    46    5
T7    Nebraska-Kearney    20-14    29    8
T7    Metro State, Colo.    15-14    29    RV
9    Wayne State, Neb.    12-13    9    10
10    Colorado State-Pueblo    15-16    8    7

Dropped out: #9 Southwest Minnesota State.
 
Also receiving votes: Upper Iowa (8-11) 4; Minnesota-Duluth (14-14) 3; Regis, Colo. (13-16); Southwest Minnesota State (8-10) 1.

MSU in the NCBWA Poll         
Feb. 26     RV
March 2    22
March 9    21st
March 16    23
March 23    23
March 30    22
April 6    23