MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Trinity University took over the top spot in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 while the Centenary College Gents surged 12 spots to No. 12 this week.
The D3baseball.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Full members of NCAA Division III are eligible.
For the first time in the last 11 polls, Cortland was knocked down to No. 2 after the Tigers outscored opponents 33 to 8 en route to a perfect 4-0 week. This is Trinity's first No. 1 ranking since March 16, 2014.
The Tiger's offense is led by senior outfielder Andrew Waters who posts a team-best .455 batting average, .836 slugging percentage and 3 home runs. junior pitcher Troy Nelson continues to be a bright spot on the hill for Trinity, posting a team-best 1.56 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
Centenary reached the No. 12 spot after a 3-0 sweep of Schreiner University, a series that saw the Gents score 46 runs. Centenary continues to be led by junior outfielder Michael Schimpf who posts a team-best .457 batting average, .617 slugging percentage, .567 on base percentage, 32 runs scores, 37 hits and 15 walks.
The Gents arms have been tough for opposing batters to deal with all year with sophomore right-hander Kaleb Kirk and senior Holden Novak leading the charge. Kirk holds a team-leading 2.20 ERA, 5 wins and 37 strikeouts. Novak posts a 3.60 ERA and has held opposing bats to a team-best .250 average while fanning 36.
A rematch of last year's SCAC championship game will take place this weekend as the Tigers travel to Shreveport for a three-game set against the 12th-ranked Gents.
