North Carolina Central 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 on March 13, 2018.
The 12-4 Eagles, who have won games with pitching and timely hitting, received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division which is made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. NCCU started the season winning 10 of its first 13 games. Right behind North Carolina Central from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is Jackson State University.
In the “small school” division, made up of NCAA Division II and Division III schools as well as those in the NAIA and USCAA, Florida Memorial University garnered the top spot. During Florida Memorial’s most recent winning streak, the Lions won 8 out of 10 games. Florida Memorial, from the SUN Conference, has had solid pitching and hitting while building a 15-7 record and enters the HBCU baseball poll for the first time in the program’s history. Following FMU is Winston Salem State University.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 243 | 5 | 10 | 8 | |
| Alabama State (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 205 | 9 | 6 | 3 | |
| Alcorn State (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 258 | 5 | 8 | 10 | |
| Arkansas Pine-Bluff University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 253 | 5 | 7 | 7 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (MEAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 153 | 6 | 11 | 6 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 264 | 8 | 11 | 4 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 256 | 8 | 8 | 5 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 4-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 169 | 11 | 3 | 2 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 66 | 12 | 4 | 1 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 239 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... None
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 79 | 8 | 6 | 7 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 493 | 6 | 6 | 10 | |
| Edward Waters College (GCAC) This Past Week: 4-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 280 | 13 | 9 | 3 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 150 | 15 | 7 | 1 | |
| Harris Stowe State University (AWC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 341 | 14 | 8 | 4 | |
| Talladega College (GCAC) This Past Week: 1-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 273 | 10 | 9 | 8 | |
| Texas College (RRAC) This Past Week: 6-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 440 | 11 | 9 | 9 | |
| Virginia State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 435 | 12 | 5 | 5 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 124 | 7 | 4 | 6 | |
| Winston Salem State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 4-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 288 | 14 | 7 | 2 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... None
2018 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 13, 2018)
Week 2 (April 3, 2018)
Week 3 (April 17, 2018)
Week 4 (April 24, 2018)
Week 5 (May 1, 2018)
Week 6 (May 8, 2018)
Week 7 (May 15, 2018)
Week 8* (May 22, 2018)
*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 19 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 32 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 22rd, 2018 at Noon (EST) on the Black College Nines’ website and Facebook pages.