Alabama State University tops the first edition of our Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season Top 10 baseball poll in the large school division as announced by Black College Nines (BCN) on March 10, 2020.
The Hornets, currently on a HBCU Baseball best seven game winning streak, (13-3 overall and 3-0 in the SWAC) after a weekend three-game sweep of Mississippi Valley State. ASU stayed undefeated in conference play and swept its third consecutive series with excellent pitching and hitting.
Jackson State University ranks No. 2 in the first poll, with North Carolina A&T University, Southern University and Alcorn State University rounding out the top five. Grambling State University comes in at No. 6. with Texas Southern, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and North Carolina Central rounding out the Top 10.
For the second year in a row, Kentucky State University tops the first “small school” poll which is made up of NCAA Division II schools as well as those in the NAIA and USCAA. The Thorobreds are off to a programs best record to start the season, (12-6) overall. KSU from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), has had solid pitching, timely hitting and come from behind victories since the start of the season and enters the HBCU baseball No 1 spot for the second time in the program’s history.
The following make up the rest of the small school poll which includes No. 2 Lane first time in the HBCU BCN Baseball Top 10 poll, No. 3 Bluefield State, No. 4 Miles College, No. 5 Virginia State University, No. 6 Benedict College, No. 7 Jarvis Christian College, No. 8 Albany State University, No. 9 West Virginia State University and No. 10 Talladega College.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools. Records indicated are through March 10.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) This Past Week: 3-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 181 | 13 | 3 | 1 | |
| Alcorn State (SWAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 239 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (MEAC) This Past Week: 0-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 273 | 5 | 11 | 8 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) This Past Week: 0-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 224 | 4 | 9 | 9 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 207 | 6 | 9 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 120 | 9 | 5 | 2 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) This Past Week: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 260 | 7 | 8 | 3 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 280 | 5 | 11 | 10 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 125 | 6 | 9 | 4 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 143 | 5 | 12 | 7 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... Coppin State, Norfolk State
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 119 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: Not Indicated | 6 | 5 | 6 | |
| Bluefield State College (USCAA) This Past Week: 0-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 292 | 7 | 6 | 3 | |
| Jarvis Christian College (RRAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 298 | 11 | 12 | 7 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 237 | 12 | 6 | 1 | |
| Lane College (SIAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 325 | 10 | 6 | 2 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) This Past Week: 2-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 258 | 9 | 8 | 4 | |
| Talladega College (GCAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 282 | 11 | 12 | 10 | |
| Virginia State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 2-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 227 | 9 | 9 | 5 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 205 | 5 | 10 | 9 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... Clafflin University, Edward Waters College, Florida Memorial, Savannah State, Texas College
2020 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 10, 2020)
Week 2 (March 24, 2020)
Week 3 (April 7, 2020)
Week 4 (April 21, 2020)
Week 5 (April 28, 2020)
Week 6 (May 5, 2020)
Week 7 (May 12, 2020)
Week 8 (May 19, 2020)
Week 9 (May 26, 2020)*
*Final Poll
The voting committee is made up of an informed and impartial group of individuals who follow college baseball on all levels, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) baseball. Included in the group are college athletic administrators and educators, college baseball writers and other sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers and above all else… college baseball enthusiasts who have an interest in promoting HBCU baseball.
As the college baseball season concludes, champions will be named in two divisions… the “large school” division will be composed of the 18 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 29 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and independent status.
The crowning of Black College Nines National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 on the Black College Nines’ website, Twitter and Facebook pages.