For the eighth consecutive week, Alabama State maintained the top spot in the HBCU Division I baseball poll announced May 5, 2015 by Blackcollegenines.com.
The Hornets, 30-15 overall and 18-6 in Southwestern Athletic Conference, clinched its second straight SWAC Eastern Division title winning two of three games this past weekend versus Jackson State. The series win marked Alabama State’s 18th series victory in the last 19 series matchups , dating back to 2013.
Once again, there was movement in the rankings with the rest of the top 10. Norfolk State University jumped back into the No. 2 spot for the second time this season. Jackson State University slipped to the No. 3 ranking, while The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff climbed to No. 4 and Alabama A&M University fell one spot to No. 5.
Rounding out the “large school” division top 10, made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs are Texas Southern University, Florida A&M University and Southern University, who each retained their previous week’s ranking. Savannah State University moved up one spot to No. 9 and North Carolina Central University round out at No. 10.
In the “small school” division, Winston-Salem State University, for the seventh consecutive week, held the top spot in the BCN poll. The Rams, 38-13 overall and 15-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), won the 2015 CIAA Eastern Division crown as the Rams pulled away from an upset-minded Virginia State late for a 8-3 win. The win gave the Rams an automatic selection to the NCAA Division II baseball playoffs.
West Virginia State University jumped one spot to No. 2; Talladega College leaped five spots to No. 3 as the Tornados topped Edward Waters’ in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) championship game 4-0, claimed their second consecutive GCAC baseball tournament championship and a second season in a row an automatic bid in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Edward Waters College fell two spots to No. 4 whereas Virginia State University fell one spot to No. 5.
The rest of the small school poll, made up of NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools, are Selma University, waiting for post season selection to the 2015 NCCAA Baseball National Tournament. Jarvis Christian University, Benedict College, Wiley College and Paine College re-entering the top 10 poll this season.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
| No. | School | Conference | Record | Previous |
| 1 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 30-15 | 1 |
| 2 | Norfolk State Unversity | MEAC | 23-13 | 3 |
| 3 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 29-20 | 2 |
| 4 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | SWAC | 23-16 | 5 |
| 5 | Alabama A&M University | SWAC | 26-26 | 4 |
| 6 | Texas Southern University | SWAC | 24-15 | 6 |
| 7 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 19-23 | 7 |
| 8 | Southern University | SWAC | 15-22 | 8 |
| 9 | Savannah State University | MEAC | 19-30 | 10 |
| 10 | North Carolina Central University | MEAC | 19-27 | 9 |
|
Dropped Out: None Others Receiving Votes (Listed Alphabetically): University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
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| No. | School | Conference | Record | Previous |
| 1 | Winston-Salem State University | CIAA | 38-13 | 1 |
| 2 | West Virginia State University | MEC | 30-13 | 3 |
| 3 | Talladega College | GCAC | 30-25 | 8 |
| 4 | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 34-22 | 2 |
| 5 | Virginia State University | CIAA | 25-18 | 4 |
| 6 | Selma University | Independent | 17-8 | 7 |
| 7 | Jarvis Christian College | RRAC | 30-23 | 5 |
| 8 | Benedict College | SIAC | 23-17 | 6 |
| 9 | Wiley College | RRAC | 22-25 | 9 |
| 10 | Paine College | SIAC | 19-23 | NR |
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Dropped Out: Tuskegee University Others Receiving Votes (Listed Alphabetically): Albany State University, St. Augustine’s College, Tuskegee University |
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The voting committee is made up of a distinguished and distinctive group whose members continue to promote black college baseball at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The group includes Ruffin Bell, originator of the former Black College Baseball HBCU National Championship poll and current Cheney State University Athletic Director. As well, the committee includes members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee – Harold Michael Harvey, Jay Sokol, John Winters and the previously mentioned Ruffin Bell. Chuck Curti, national sports journalists and Michael Coker, political blogger, round out the voting panel. Bell, Harvey and Coker each played baseball at HBCU schools. Champions will be named for two divisions… the “large school” division will be composed of the 20 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 34 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and independent status.
Previous Poll Results: (click on links below)
Week 1 (March 17, 2015)
Week 2 (March 24, 2015)
Week 3 (March 31, 2015)
Week 4 (April 7, 2015)
Week 5 (April 14, 2015)
Week 6 (April 21, 2015)
Week 7 (April 28, 2015)
Week 8 (May 5, 2015)
Final Poll (May 12, 2015)