2009 PRESEASON RANKINGS PING!BASEBALL TOP 30 RANKINGS Throughout the season only three different teams were positioned number one in the Ping!Baseball rankings: North Carolina (9 weeks), Cal State Fullerton (2) and LSU (7). Each of those clubs made the trip to Omaha. For the majority of the season LSU was either number two or one, reaching the top spot for the first time in week eight. However the Tigers then quickly fell to eight after losing to Nicholls St. and dropping a series at home to Tennessee. Three shorts weeks later they once again ascended to the number one position and never let go, winning 15 of their final 16 games.

Final DI College Baseball Rankings, Updated June 25, 2009

Rank		Last Week	Team	Comment
1		1		LSU Fighting Tigers LSU (56-17) won its first national championship since 2000 and sixth in school history by closing out the season by winning 15 of their final 16 games dating back to the SEC Tournament.
2		5		Texas Longhorns Texas (50-16-1) was denied its seventh national championship after LSU's decisive game three victory. With only two drafted players not returning next season, expect UT to be back in Omaha.
3		2		Arizona State Sundevils The Sun Devils (51-14) finish tied for third in the College World Series after losing to Texas in the finals of their bracket. ASU had taken the lead in the ninth in their elimination game, but UT rallied with a pair of solo homeruns to steal the win.
4		3		North Carolina Tar Heels Arizona State sent North Carolina (48-18) packing with a decisive 12-5 win. The Tar Heels, who were playing in their fourth consecutive CWS, will have to replace a number of key players to earn a fifth straight appearance in Omaha next season.
5		7		Arkansas Razorbacks The Hog's (41-24) roller coaster season in which they were once ranked in the top five only to fall to number 25, came to an end at the hands of LSU in the finals of their bracket.
6		4		Virginia Cavaliers The Cav's (49-15-1) season came to a close in one of the most memorable games in CWS history. Arkansas finally got the better of UVA in a 12 inning affair in which the Cavs had a number of opportunities to score but couldn't cross the plate.
7		6		Cal State Fullerton Titans Fullerton's (47-16) sixteenth appearances in Omaha was a disappointing one as they were winless in the CWS. CSF has lost its last five games at Rosenblatt, a string they hope to break next season.
8		9		Florida State Seminoles Florida State (45-18) saw its season come to a close on a two-run, walk-off double by Arkansas despite rallying to take the lead in the top half of the ninth. It is of little consolation that FSU finished with the best league record in the ACC.
9		10		Rice Owls The Owls (43-18) had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but could not pull off a late inning rally to overcome LSU and were eliminated by the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
10		11		Florida Gators Southern Miss overcame a 6-4 deficit with three runs in the eighth inning to upset Florida (42-22) and eliminate them from further competition. It was the first time the Gators lost back-to-back games at home since the 1992.
11		12		Mississippi Rebels Ole Miss (44-20) saw its season come to a bitter end after Virginia defeated them in the decisive third game of their Super Regional Series. 2009 marked the fourth time in the last five seasons the Rebels played for a spot in the College World Series.
12		13		UC Irvine Anteaters Irvine (45-15) had their season ended at the hands of Virginia, losing a pair of games at home to the Cavaliers. UCI did manage wins over Fresno State and San Diego State.
13		14		Texas Christian Horned Frogs The Frogs (40-18) forced a deciding game three with Texas, but lost the Lone Star State showdown 5-2 to get eliminated by the Longhorns. TCU will look to reload in 2010 as seven accomplished seniors played their last game for the Purple and White.
14		15		Louisville Cardinals Despite a pair of homeruns from Chris Dominguez, Louisville (47-18) had little answers to solving the Fullerton enigma and were easily swept in two games. The Cardinals did earn their first ever 40-win season, won their first ever BIG EAST regular season title.
15		16		Clemson Tigers The Tigers (44-22) had their season come to a close after being swept in two games at the hands of Arizona State. The Tigers were competitive, but altogether non threatening in their attempt to foil the Sun Devils return trip to Omaha.
16		17		Oklahoma Sooners Despite a national top eight seed, the Sooners (43-20) failed to advance to Super Regional play. OU lost twice to Arkansas, losing by a combined score of 28-6.
17		18		East Carolina Pirates The Pirates (46-20) were outscored 19-4 in their two losses to UNC to have their season come to another accomplished, yet ultimately disappointing, end.
18		8		Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Southern Miss (40-26) advanced to their first College World Series in Coach Corky Palmer's final season. USM had a bitter, bitter loss to Texas and had their pitching pummeled by UNC for an early ouster.
19		19		Vanderbilt Commodores Vanderbilt (37-27) ended 2009 playing some of their baseball of the season, finishing second in the SEC Tournament and second in the Louisville Regional. Vandy lost their opener to Middle Tennessee, but reeled off three wins before getting eliminated.
20		20		Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Georgia Tech (38-18-1) could not silence the Southern Mississippi bats and lost two games to the Golden Eagles. Tech had overcome a loss to force a decisive third game, but were outplayed.
21		21		Western Kentucky Hilltoppers The Toppers (42-20) advanced to a winner take all rubber match with Ole Miss on Monday, but lost the game 4-1 to have their season come to a close. WKU did win two games over Missouri to eliminate the Tigers.
22		22		Elon Phoenix Elon (41-18) lost a 17-15 opening round game to Southern Miss, eliminated Georgia State and lost to Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional to have their season come to a close.
23		23		Costal Carolina Chanticleers CCU (47-16) defeated Kansas in the first round of the Chapel Hill Regional, but lost a rematch with the Jayhawks as well as a game to host UNC to get elminated.
24		24		Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State (43-18-1) posted wins over Xavier and Rice in the Houston Regional, but lost two final games to the Owls by a combined score of 21-4 to have their season come to a close.
25		25		South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina (40-23) lost a 10-9 heartbreaker in extra innings to ECU after the Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with three runs. South Carolina now has won 40 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons.
26		26		Middle Tennessee Sta Blue Raiders Things got off to a good start for the Blue Raiders (44-18) in the Louisville Regional as they defeated Vanderbilt, however a tight 3-2 loss to host Louisville and a defeat in a rematch with the 'Dores ended the Middle Tennessee season.
27		27		Miami FL Hurricanes The Hurricanes (38-22) had two wins over Jacksonville in the Gainesville Regional, however a pair of lopsided losses to Florida ultimately ended Miami's season.
28		28		Gonzaga Bulldogs/Zags The Zags (36-16) won their Fullerton Regional opener against Georgia Southern, however they lost their next two contests to Cal State Fullerton and Utah to have their record breaking season come to a close.
29		29		Boston College Eagles BC (34-26) advanced to its first NCAA Championship since 1967, defeated Texas State in the opener and played in one of the most memorable games in NCAA history, losing to Texas in a 25 inning marathon. The energy depleted Eagles lost to Army the next day.
30		30		Georgia Bulldogs The Bulldogs (38-24) hammered Ohio State 24-8 in their opener at the Tallahassee Regional, but lost their next two games to Florida State and the Buckeyes to get bounced from title contention.