LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The first 11 teams remained the same in the NFCA Division III Top 25 rankings, led by undefeated defending national champion Virginia Wesleyan in the top spot.
The (14-0) Marlins have been idle since winning the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic on March 4 at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz. They had been scheduled to play a home doubleheader against No. 6 Christopher Newport (8-2) on Sunday, but weather postponed that matchup to April 11, with the games now shifted to Captains Park in Newport News, Va.
No. 2 Texas Lutheran and third-ranked Texas-Tyler, meanwhile, both swept conference series last week. The (15-1) Bulldogs took four Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference games from the University of Dallas, including the last two by run rule, before opening a 12-game homestand with doubleheader sweeps of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Messiah earlier this week. The (12-1) Patriots gave up only two runs while scoring 25 in their three-game American Southwest Conference set with Sul Ross, before starting this week by winning the opener of its series with Concordia (Texas).
Fifth-ranked Trine (12-2) stayed in Arizona after the Leadoff and continued to impress, going 7-1 at the Tucson Invitational Games (TIG). Seven of its eight games at the TIG ended early due to the run rule. The Thunder return to action this weekend at the DePauw Invitational, which also includes No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan and Washington (Mo.), which is receiving votes in the poll.
The lone newcomer in this week’s Top 25 is Saint Benedict (13-3), which debuts at No. 23 — where it is tied with Emory — after going 8-2 at the TIG, including wins over fifth-ranked Trine and No. 17 Central. Due to inclement weather, Emory (6-2) hasn’t played since Feb. 24, but is riding a four-game win streak, including a doubleheader sweep of No. 8 Berry (18-3) on Feb. 18.
The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Current 2018 records are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.
NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll – March 14, 2018
|
Rank |
Team |
2018 Record |
Points |
Previous |
|
1 |
Virginia Wesleyan (8) |
14-0 |
200 |
1 |
|
2 |
Texas Lutheran |
15-1 |
192 |
2 |
|
3 |
Texas-Tyler |
12-1 |
184 |
3 |
|
4 |
Williams |
0-0 |
176 |
4 |
|
5 |
Trine |
12-2 |
168 |
5 |
|
6 |
Christopher Newport |
8-2 |
160 |
6 |
|
7 |
Amherst |
4-0 |
152 |
7 |
|
8 |
Berry |
18-3 |
144 |
8 |
|
9 |
Luther |
8-1 |
136 |
9 |
|
10 |
Wisconsin-Whitewater |
0-0 |
128 |
10 |
|
11 |
St. John Fisher |
7-5 |
120 |
11 |
|
12 |
Randolph-Macon |
11-1 |
112 |
13 |
|
13 |
East Texas Baptist |
12-3 |
90 |
14 |
|
14 |
Babson |
3-3 |
83 |
15 |
|
15 |
Ramapo |
4-2 |
66 |
12 |
|
16 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
3-3 |
61 |
17 |
|
T17 |
Central (Iowa) |
12-4 |
56 |
T21 |
|
Kean |
7-1 |
56 |
T23 |
|
|
19 |
Ithaca |
4-2 |
47 |
16 |
|
20 |
George Fox |
13-5 |
40 |
18 |
|
21 |
St. Thomas (Minn.) |
3-3 |
38 |
20 |
|
22 |
Moravian |
9-3 |
35 |
RV |
|
T23 |
Emory |
6-2 |
31 |
T23 |
|
Saint Benedict |
13-3 |
31 |
NR |
|
|
25 |
Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
7-3 |
24 |
T23 |
Others receiving votes: Linfield 20, Alma 14, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 9, La Verne 8, Washington (Mo.) 7 and Lynchburg 3.
Dropped out: Cortland, Hope, Rowan, Salisbury, Texas-Dallas, Transylvania, Whitworth and Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
