LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Augustana returned to No. 1 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the Association on Wednesday. In a very close vote that saw four teams receive first-place votes, the Vikings (8-2) earned seven of those votes and 387 points. 

With Young Harris falling out of the top spot, the next five programs – Augustana, UT Tyler, Rollins, Chico State and Southern Arkansas – each moved up one spot in the poll, while the Mountain Lions (13-3) dropped to No. 6.

The idle Vikings edged out UT Tyler (385) by two points. The second-ranked Patriots (16-0), who captured five first-place nods, continued their hot start with six more wins. After a mid-week sweep of Our Lady of the Lake, UT Tyler swept then-No. 16 Texas A&M University-Commerce (2-1, 3-2) in its first-ever Lone Star Conference (LSC) twinbill and then proceeded to sweep Texas Woman’s (4-2, 9-1).

Undefeated Rollins, which received three first-place votes, swept its second straight Sunshine State Conference series, knocking off Barry at home. The third-ranked Tars (17-0) posted two shutouts, moving their season total to nine, and also run-ruled the Bucs game two.

No. 4 Chico State and No. 5 Southern Arkansas each swept their respective four-game conference series. The Wildcats (16-1) extended their winning streak to seven games after shutting out Cal State East Bay. Chico State’s pitching staff twirled two no-hitters, did not allow a run over 23 innings and held the Pioneers to an .068 batting average (five hits).

The Muleriders (18-2) went on the road and outscored Northwestern Oklahoma State, 57-5. Extending its winning streak to 12 contests, Southern Arkansas’ offense exploded, scoring 20 and 21 runs in games one and four. It marked the second and third time this season, they have reached the 20-run plateau.

YHC slipped to No. 6, dropping three of four last weekend. The Mountain Lions were swept by Lees-McRae (1-9, 4-7) and split at then-No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne (10-11 in 9 inn., 12-4).

No. 7 North Georgia and No. 8 Concordia Irvine moved up two positions each. The NightHawks (19-4) split a mid-week doubleheader with Lee (4-0, 1-3 in 8 inn.) and took two of three in a top-10 matchup with then-No. 7 Lincoln Memorial (5-1, 12-4, 0-1). The Eagles (12-2) opened their PacWest Conference trip to Hawai’i, taking three of four from Hawai’i Pacific (7-1, 8-2, 3-0, 4-7) and the first game at Chaminade (1-0).

Angelo State dropped to No. 9, while idle Trevecca Nazarene made its way to No. 10. The Rambelles (14-6) had a tough start to LSC play. Angelo State was swept by new-No. 18 Oklahoma Christian (2-10, 0-8) and split at Cameron (14-7, 4-8). 

Joining Oklahoma Christian as this week’s newcomers are No. 22 Charleston (8-0), No. 23 Cal State Dominguez Hills (14-6) and UAH (12-6). Dixie State, UC San Diego, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Winona State dropped out.

The 2020 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through March 1.

2020 NFCA Division II
Top 25 Coaches Poll – March 4 (Week 3)

New to Poll: No. 18 Oklahoma Christian, No. 22 Charleston, No. 23 Cal State Dominguez Hills, No. 25 UAH

Dropped Out: No. 11 Dixie State, No. 14 UC San Diego, No. 19 Texas A&M-Kingsville, No. 25 Winona State

Receiving Votes: Coker (26), UC San Diego (20), Dixie State (18), West Florida (14), Saginaw Valley State (5), Winona State (5), Southern New Hampshire (1).

The 2020 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA’s eight regions. Records reflect games played through March 1 with first-place votes in parentheses.