Jackson State University retains its No. 1 ranking for the fourth consecutive week in Black College Nines’ 2018 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll in the large school division, as announced on May 8, 2018.
The Tigers, 30-15 overall and 17-7 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), went 2-0 during the week and also continues to receive votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division I Top 30 Poll.
There were no changes for No. 2 through No. 4 as Alabama State University, North Carolina A&T University, and North Carolina Central University retained their previous week’s rankings.
Significant movement occurred within the remaining large school top 10 poll slots… Texas Southern University moved up one spot to No. 5, Florida A&M University also jump one spot to No. 6 and Grambling State University fell two spots to No. 7. The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff retained the No. 8 ranking while Coppin State University and Bethune Cookman University flip-flopped the No. 9 and No. 10 rankings, respectively.
In the small school poll, for the first time in school’s history Albany State University becomes the No. 1 ranked team in the small school Top 10 poll presented by Black College Nines. The Golden Rams went 5-0 for the week and claimed its second SIAC Championship in three years with an impressive run through the tournament going 3-0. Miles College slipped to No. 2.
There were also major changes throughout the remaining small school top 10 rankings. Winston Salem State University slipped to No. 3, while Virginia State University maintained the No. 4 ranking, Talladega College jumped four spots into No. 5, Florida Memorial University climbed to No. 6, Edward Waters College moved up one spot to No. 7, West Virginia State University fell to No. 8, Harris Stowe State University dropped to No. 9, and Selma University stayed in at No. 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: 2 Current RPI: 221 | 27 | 20 | 2 | |
| Arkansas Pine-Bluff University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 270 | 20 | 21 | 8 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (MEAC) This Past Week: 0-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 177 | 18 | 31 | 10 | |
| Coppin State University (MEAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 271 | 19 | 22 | 9 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 247 | 23 | 25 | 6 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 275 | 23 | 22 | 7 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 206 | 30 | 15 | 1 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 246 | 26 | 22 | 3 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 229 | 27 | 23 | 4 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 237 | 23 | 26 | 5 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... None
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) This Past Week: 5-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 199 | 28 | 16 | 1 | |
| Edward Waters College (GCAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 416 | 30 | 24 | 7 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) This Past Week: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 214 | 26 | 21 | 6 | |
| Harris Stowe State University (AWC) This Past Week: 0-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 365 | 30 | 24 | 9 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) This Past Week: 3-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 301 | 32 | 19 | 2 | |
| Selma University (USCAA) This Past Week: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: Not Indicated | 13 | 12 | 10 | |
| Talladega College (GCAC) This Past Week: 2-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 246 | 26 | 23 | 5 | |
| Virginia State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 438 | 26 | 15 | 4 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) This Past Week: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 394 | 28 | 20 | 8 | |
| Winston Salem State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 0-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 300 | 30 | 19 | 3 |
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.