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2010 PRESEASON RANKINGS

DIVISION II TOP 30 RANKINGS
(FINAL)

Back in February the Lynn Fighting Knights vaulted to the top spot in the College Baseball Newspaper official DII baseball poll, going from “receiving votes” consideration to the top team in just two weeks; a move questioned by Ping!Baseball as premature and hasty considering that LU's 11-1 record was impressive, but far short of breathtaking. The “unjustified” positioning was seemingly validated as the Knights soon after lost five out of seven games to topple completely out of the CBN poll. The Knights stormed back to win their next eight, but taking a page out of the Katy Perry songbook, Lynn's “Hot and Cold” season took another dip for the worse, dropping six of nine games. Needless to say, the LU rating's rollercoaster ride was far from over with its crescendo yet to come.

The Knights finished fourth in the Sunshine State Conference regular season standings and received an at large bid to play in the South Region Baseball Tournament. While playing in Magnolia at the regional, LU caught fire with a memorable blaze akin to Jimi Hendrix's flaming guitar and shot through the postseason. The Knights downed perennial powerhouse Tampa, toppled number one ranked Southern Arkansas and twice defeated Florida Southern (outscoring the Mocs 26-6 in the two games) to advance to the College World Series. While in Cary, none of their wins were commanding (two were decided by one run, another by two), but they were convincing. Lynn won four straight to win their first baseball title and dogpiled on the infield. The team-first mentality Knights were so overjoyed at winning the series, their championship trophy was literally brushed to the site while the players embraced each other instead.

LU's start of the season victories over St. Thomas , Columbus State and Georgia Southwestern were nice, but not deserving of the number one ranking. We'll stand by that. But their twelve straight wins over ranked teams and perfect record in the post season… now those are championship credentials. Congratulations to the Lynn University Fighting Knights, the 2009 National Champions.

DII College Baseball Rankings - Updated May 31, 2009

Rank	Last Week	Comment
1	1	Lynn Fighting Knights Lynn (46-16) won a pitcher's duel with 2-1 victory over Emporia State to claim the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship. This is the first national crown for the baseball program. LU swept through the NCAA postseason, going 8-0 in the South Region and National Tournament.
2	2	Emporia State Hornets Emporia State (49-14) got on the board first, but lost a nail biting, 2-1 championship game to Lynn. For ESU, it was their fifth straight 40+ win season and the second most wins as members of the NCAA.
3	4	University of California - San Diego Tritons It was a busy but ultimately disappointing run for the Tritons (41-15) in the Championships. UCSD went 2-2 in Cary to finish as the number three team in that nation.
4	16	Belmont Abbey College Crusaders The Crusaders (40-26) played late into the night, finally losing to Lynn at two A.M. on Thursday/Friday to get eliminated from the CWS. BAC did take out two teams of their own along the way, sending GVSU and Mesa State home.
5	3	Mesa State College Mavericks The Mavs (44-15) won their World Series opener over Belmont Abbey, but lost their next two games to have their championship aspirations foiled. Mesa fell to Emporia State and lost a rematch with BAC.
6	5	West Chester Pennsylvania Golden Rams The Rams (46-12) made it to Cary, NC for the DII College World Series, but lost two close games to get eliminated early from title contention.
7	11	Dowling College Golden Lions Dowling (35-18) went 1-2 in the CWS, winning their opener to UCSD, but lost a one run game to eventual champions Lynn and a rematch with the Tritons. The Golden Lions captured their first ever East Region Championship and lose only 4 seniors headed into next season.
8	8	Grand Valley State Lakers The Lakers (45-16-1) broke out of a post season funk to make it back to the CWS, but Emporia State and Belmont Abbey got the better of GVSU in a pair of tight games in Cary to eliminate them in two games.
9	7	Southern Arkansas Muleriders The Muleriders (52-11) couldn't get their offense or defense going and had their season prematurely ended in 3-1 loss to Florida Southern in the South Region in which all three FSC runs were unearned. SAU had been the number one team 11 of 14 weeks, including 10 straight in 2009.
10	9	Florida Southern College Moccasins The Mocs (41-16) advanced to the South Region championship, but were thumped by Lynn who scored in every inning and won the game 19-3. FSC made their 38th NCAA appearance, the most in Division II.
11	6	Central Missouri University Mules The Mules (44-15) had home field advantage, but it was not to be CMU's year as they lost the South Central Regional championship game to conference rival Emporia State on Monday to have their national championship aspirations dashed.
12	10	Barry Buccaneers Barry (44-11) had a deeply unsatisfying close to their season, going 0-2 in the South Regional with losses to Valdosta State and West Alabama. The Bucs did set the school record for most wins in a season while advancing to the postseason for the first time since 1998.
13	12	Tampa Spartans The Spartans (39-17) season came to a close as Tampa went 1-2 in the South Region. Their losses were to Lynn and Valdosta State with their lone win coming over Stillman College.
14	13	South Carolina Aiken Pacers The Pacers (42-19) advanced to the championship round, but could not withstand the red hot Belmont Abbey Crusaders who defeated the USCA twice in the Southeast Regionals. The Pacers' 42 wins leave the program entering the 2010 campaign with five consecutive 40-win seasons.
15	14	Sonoma State Seawolves The Seawovles (35-16) lost their West Regional opener, but battled back to match up with UC San Diego in the finals. The Tritons exploded in the ninth and won the game and the region to eliminate SSU's run for another trip to the CWS.
16	15	Delta State Statesmen The Statesman (38-16) were left on the outside looking in and didn't get an at large bid to participate the NCAAs. Without an opportunity to win, the Statesman slip to 15.
17	17	West Alabama Tigers The GSC East Division Champions West Alabama (38-16) went 1-2 in the über competitive South Regional, losing to Florida Southern, defeating Barry and losing to Southern Arkansas.
18	18	Francis Marion Patriots The Patriots (38-15-1) won their first two games in the Southeast Regional, but then suffered back to back losses to Belmont Abbey and USC Aiken to get elminated. FMU's 38 wins were the second-most wins in program history.
19	19	Valdosta State Blazers Valdosta State (37-18) had a good showing in the South Region, going 2-2 with wins over Barry and Tampa. However you have to have a great showing to advance and the Blazers were eliminated with losses to Florida Southern and Southern Arkansas.
20	20	Franklin Pierce University Ravens The Raven's (37-18) season is nevermore as FPU lost two one run games in the East Regional. Franklin Pierce had won its third consecutive Northeast-10 Championship, as well as its fourth title in five years.
21	21	Ashland Eagles Ashland (42-15-1) won their Midwest Region opener over Rockhurst, but were then toppled by Northern Kentucky and Southern Indiana to have their season come to a bitter close. The Eagles only have three seniors so look out for Ashland in 2010.
22	22	Western Oregon Wolves In a battle of Wolves, WOU (34-14) defeated Sonoma State in the first round of the West Regional. UCSD wholloped Western Oregon in the second round, setting up a WOU-SSU winner take all rematch in which the Seawolves prevailed.
23	23	Catawba College Indians The Indians (36-18) won their Southeast Regional opener over Georgia College, but two quick losses to Francis Marion and USC Aiken put Catawaba's season on ice.
24	24	Abilene Christian Wildcats ACU (44-19) lost a 12-innning affair to conference rival Angelo State to get eliminated in the South Central Region. ASU has ended ACU's season in two of the last three campaigns adding fuel to already hotly contested rivalry.
25	25	Angelo State Rams The Rams (45-20) were embarrassed in the first round of the South Central Regional, losing 23-0. However Angelo State regrouped and was able to come back in win their next two before being eliminated by the Hornets on Sunday.
26	26	Georgia College and State Bobcats The Bobcats (37-19) were tamed in the Southeast Regional, going 0-2 with losses to Catawa and Belmont Abbey.
27	27	Cameron Aggies Cameron (42-15) didn't impress in the Lone Star Conference tournament, going 1-2. Consequently the Aggies, like Delta State, were unjustifiably left out of the NCAA National tournament.
28	28	Tusculum College Pioneers Tusculum College (36-18) had two quick losses in the Southeast Regional to make a quick exit, losing to Francis Marion and host USC Aiken.
29	29	Dominican College - New York Chargers Despite being the number one seed, Dominican (38-14) faltered in the East Regional, going 1-2. The Chargers did get the satisfaction of eliminating traditional power Franklin Pierce from title contention.
30	30	Mercyhurst College Lakers Mercyhurst (38-17) opened Atlantic Regional play with three straight wins. However they then ran into West Chester who dumped the Lakers in back to back games to spoil their extended postseason plans.

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