PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) –  Eight-time national champion Tampa hauled in 11 first-place votes to remain on top of the ranking, but the Spartans are now looking in the rearview mirror as defending national champion Wingate and Central Missouri closed the gap in Wednesday’s Week 9 release of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Top 25 poll.

Wingate raked in five first-place votes in this week’s ranking as well, while Central Missouri became the seventh different team this season to register at least one first-place nod. The Mules ran their win streak out to five games with a quartet of wins last week, including a weekend sweep of Missouri Southern at home. Tampa had its eight-game win streak snapped with a weekend series loss at Lee, while Wingate dropped outings against both Francis Marion and then-No. 17 Newberry.

West Texas A&M jumped nine spots to No. 5 this week on the heels of a 3-1 week that included a trio of road wins over then-No. 7 Angelo State. Seton Hill leapt eight spots to No. 17 after winning four of its five outings last week.

Two teams re-entered the national ranking this week after appearing in the NCBWA Top 25 earlier this season. Cal State Monterey Bay is No. 18 after a one-week hiatus from the listing, while Delta State (No. 20) is back in the poll for the first time since the preseason release.

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