March 2, 2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Todd Anderson
662-312-1829
West Texas A&M rises to No. 2
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WINGATE TOPS NCBWA DIVISION II POLL

PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) – Defending national champion Wingate grabbed a baker's dozen of first-place votes to hold on to the No. 1 spot for the second-straight week, but undefeated West Texas A&M served notice that it was a team to watch as the Buffs slid into the No. 2 spot in Wednesday's Week 3 edition of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II Top 25.

Wingate, who had its 16-game win streak snapped with a road loss to Erskine on Tuesday, still managed to retain 13 first-place votes in Wednesday's release. West Texas A&M and Tampa halved the remaining six first-place votes to nestle into the Nos. 2 and 3 spots respectively. The Buffs stretched their season-opening win streak out to 14 games with a four-game sweep at UT Permian Basin, while the Spartans won all four games last week to push their win streak out to a dozen outings.

Central Missouri, which occupied the No. 3 position in the NCBWA Preseason Top 25, returned to the rankings this week at No. 21, while two new teams entered the NCBWA Division II Top 25. West Chester (No. 22) is nationally ranked for the first time since the Week 12 poll in 2019 (May 14, 2019), while Franklin Pierce returns to the listing for the first time since last season's Week 11 ranking (April 7, 2021).

Rk. School [1st place] Location Record Pts. Pvs.
1. Wingate [13] Wingate, N.C. 14-1 464 1
2. West Texas A&M [3] Canyon, Texas 12-0 442 3
3. Tampa [3] Tampa, Fla. 12-1 439 2
4. Nova Southeastern Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 12-0 412 7
5. Point Loma San Diego, Calif. 13-1 396 5
6. Henderson State Arkadelphia, Ark. 12-0 384 10
7. Trevecca Nazarene Nashville, Tenn. 10-1 345 9
8. Southern Arkansas Magnolia, Ark. 11-1 332 4
9. Columbus State Columbus, Ga. 13-3 326 8
10. Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, Colo. 9-3 305 6
11. Seton Hill Greensburg, Pa. 4-1 278 12
12. Southern New Hampshire Manchester, N.H. 4-1 271 11
13. Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colo. 11-1 230 13
14. Chico State Chico, Calif. 11-2 221 t15
15. Lenoir-Rhyne Hickory, N.C. 16-1 210 24
16. Rollins Winter Park, Fla. 9-2 173 22
17. Angelo State San Angelo, Texas 11-3 164 17
18. Illinois Springfield Springfield, Ill. 7-3 133 20
19. Newberry Newberry, S.C. 14-3 128 14
20. Concordia-Irvine Irvine, Calif. 10-3-1 89 23
21. Central Missouri Warrensburg. Mo. 7-3 87 RV
22. West Chester West Chester, Pa. 6-0 81 RV
23. Lubbock Christian Lubbock, Texas 11-3 66 25
24. Franklin Pierce Rindge, N.H. 4-1 44 RV
25. North Georgia Dahlonega, Ga. 9-4 39 18
Also receiving votes: Valdosta State (9-4) 29; Northwood (8-2) 26; Augustana (S.D.) (2-1) 25; Mercyhurst (2-1) 23; West Florida (7-5) 6; Mount Olive (9-2) 4; Molloy (4-3) 2; St. Edward's (11-4) 1.
Dropped out: Montevallo (t15); Mercyhurst (19); Augustana (S.D.) (21).

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.

2022 NCBWA Division II Polls (No. 1 Team):
Preseason (Tampa)
Feb. 16 (Wingate)
Feb. 23 (Wingate)
March 2 (Wingate)
March 9 (Nova Southeastern)
March 16 (Wingate)
March 23 (Tampa)
March 30 (Tampa)
April 6 (Tampa)
April 13 (Tampa)
April 20 (Wingate)
April 27 (Wingate)
May 4 (Wingate)
May 11 (North Greenville)