LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Defending national champion Virginia Wesleyan dodged an upset bid on Tuesday to improve to 22-0 and continue atop the NFCA Division III Top 25 rankings for a 13th straight week.

The Marlins edged unranked DePauw 2-1 and 12-9 on Tuesday to remain unbeaten over their last 28 games, going back to a 4-1 loss to then-reigning Division III titlist Texas-Tyler last May 25 at the NCAA Championship in Oklahoma City. Virginia Wesleyan has been the unanimous No. 1 team in the Top 25 since the eighth ranking of last season on April 5.

Texas Lutheran (23-1), which has won 16 straight since a 5-0 loss to the Marlins on March 4 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Ariz., and Texas-Tyler (20-1), which has won 13 consecutive games, remain firmly in the second and third spots, respectively. Randolph-Macon (19-1) and Berry (23-3) both kept winning to each gain another place in the rankings and round out the first five.

Trine (17-3) also moved up one spot to No. 6, while St. John Fisher (7-5), which has won five straight, but hasn’t played since March 8, and Illinois Wesleyan (7-3) both returned to the top 10 behind No. 7 Christopher Newport (13-3) and No. 8 Luther (13-1).

No. 11 George Fox (21-5) gained eight more places this week, and St. Thomas (8-4) surged four spots to 20th after outscoring its last three opponents, 27-1.

Hope (11-2), which has won nine straight, joined the rankings this week at No. 23, while Muskingum (16-2) and Pomona-Pitzer (17-6-1) also received votes for the first time this season.

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 28, 2018

Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve 11, Muskingum 4, Pomona-Pitzer 2 and Wisconsin-Oshkosh 1.

Dropped out: Buena Vista, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Emory & Henry and Ramapo.