PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) – A plethora of success on the baseball diamond has led to a further tightening of the race between the nation's top 25 teams as Colorado Mesa became the third squad in as many weeks to hold the top spot in the national ranking with the release of the NCBWA Division II Top 25 on Wednesday.

The Mavericks scored 38 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Adams State over the weekend that further solidified UCM's worthiness to take its perch atop the ranking. Lindenwood raked in the most first-place votes of any team in the poll this week, but an idle week on the diamond put a damper on the momentum of the Lions. Lee collected the four remaining first-place votes after extending its win streak out to 13 games with a weekend sweep of Montevallo at home.

Two teams returned to the NCBWA Division II Top 25 on Wednesday after previous appearances this season. Franklin Pierce is back in the poll after a week-long absence after taking all four games in its home series with Assumption. Shorter returns to the national rankings for the first time since Week 2 (February 24) on the heels of a home series sweep of Christian Brothers.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.