March 29, 2011

FMU diamond squad remains 16th in poll, Rain alters schedule

Despite completing a second straight 4-0 week, Francis Marion University remained No. 16 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s NCAA Division II Top 30 poll, released on Monday.  The high chance of precipitation on Wednesday has altered the Patriots’ schedule for this week.

Wednesday’s contest between FMU and 21st-ranked Belmont Abbey College has been postponed until April 19 at 3 p.m. at Francis Marion.  The Patriots were originally scheduled to travel to Belmont Abbey on that date, but the two schools agreed to play a single game in Florence on April 19.

Francis Marion is 24-8 overall and 9-3 in the Peach Belt Conference – the second best mark in the league.

The Patriots will return to action on Friday at 6 p.m. when they open a three-game PBC series against Lander University (17-14, 6-5).  The two squads will also play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field.

Admission to home games is $6 for adults and $4 for students with FMU students being admitted free with a valid identification card.

This week’s national ranking means the Patriots have appeared in 101 of the past 109 national polls dating back to the 2005 season. Francis Marion was ranked 15th in the 2011 pre-season poll, dropped out of the first two rankings, but returned to the poll and has been 24th, 17th, 13th, 24th, and 16th (last week).

Region foe Mount Olive College (27-3) takes over the No. 1 position in this week’s poll, while six Peach Belt squads also appear in the new rankings.

 
 
 
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll
For Immediate Release: Monday (March 28, 2011)

 

Rank      Team                                     Record                 Points   Previous
1.            Mount Olive                         27-3                     474         2
2.            Emporia State                     20-1                     466         1
3.            West Florida                        28-4                     452         3
4.            Central Missouri                  18-4                     430         4
5.            Cal. St. Chico                      17-3                     418         6
6.            Grand Valley State              15-2                     398         8
7.            Georgia College                   23-8                     386         5
8.            Armstrong Atlantic St.        24-5                     354         12
9.            Tampa                               21-8                     336         10
10.          U.C. San Diego                   20-8                     326         8
11.          St. Mary's (Tex.)                25-6                      326         11
12.          N.C. Pembroke                  25-6                       294         7
13.          Southern Conn. St.           19-0                       294         13
14.          Florida Southern               20-5                       282         17
15.          Franklin Pierce                  19-4                       262         14
16.          Francis Marion                  24-8                       240         16
17.          East Stroudsburg              16-4                       208         —
18.          Catawba                            25-7                       202         23
19.          Sonoma State                   18-6                       198         21
20.          Harding                             26-5                       192         30
21.          Belmont Abbey                  25-8                       162         20
22.          Southern Indiana              12-5                       126         26
23.          St. Cloud State                  11-2                       120         25
24.          Mass.-Lowell                     18-2                       92           RV
25.          Indianapolis                      13-3                       92           19
26.          Columbus State                20-12                     74           22
27.          Tarleton State                   20-7                       62           RV
28.          Barry                                22-8                       58           RV
29.          Nebraska-Kearney             16-5                       52           RV
30.          North Alabama                  18-9                       8              15
                Georgia Southwestern      18-13                     8              —
                Mercyhurst                      16-6                       8              29
                Incarnate Word                18-9                       8              30

   

Also Receiving Votes: Millersville (4), Cal. St. Los Angeles (4), Nova S.E. (2), Wayne St., Mich. (2), Western Oregon (2), North Georgia (1), Erskine (1), Nebraska-Omaha (1), S.E. Oklahoma (1), S. Arkansas (1), Adelphi (1), Minnesota St.-Mankato (1), Mesa St. (1), Metro St. (1), Ashland (1), Mansfield (1), Slippery Rock (1).