The college baseball season has officially entered its second half, and the action is heating up. The nation’s top-ranked teams have continued to flex their muscles, racking up wins and proving why they’re perched at the top of the standings. But as always, the second half of the season brings plenty of intrigue. A wave of challengers and up-and-coming programs are making their move, eager to disrupt the status quo and carve out a spot among the elite. With every series carrying more weight, the stretch run promises to deliver the kind of drama, breakout performances, and unexpected shake-ups that make college baseball so electric.
NCAA DII
With the top ten teams combining for a dominant 29-5 record last week, there were no shake-ups at the top of the rankings.
Tampa remains the No. 1 team in the nation, bouncing back in emphatic fashion from their first series loss of the season. The Spartans demolished Valdosta State and then swept Nova Southeastern in a statement week. Star outfielder Jordan Williams made history during the series against the Sharks, swiping his club-record 53rd base of the season — and he’s not done yet. With five full series remaining in the regular season, plus what’s expected to be a deep postseason run, Williams (who boasts a .441 on-base percentage) is on track to easily steal a dozen more bags.
Minnesota State continues to roll as well. The Mavericks completed a sweep of Minot State last week, improving to an impressive 24-2. After opening the year ranked No. 22, MSU has surged into the top ten and shows no signs of slowing down. Their offense has been on a tear, scoring double-digit runs in five of their last six games and slugging an eye-popping .562 on the season. Graduate slugger Ike Mezzenga, who transferred from the University of Minnesota after two standout years, is hitting .396 and leads the team with 12 home runs.
The only knock on the Mavericks? Their strength of schedule. MSU has faced just one ranked opponent so far — a 4-1 win over Grand Valley State in Florida — and won’t be truly tested until a marquee showdown with Augustana at the end of the month. Still, the Mavericks are shaping up to be serious contenders for a return trip to the Division II College World Series — a place they visited four times in five seasons between 2010 and 2014.
This week’s Perfect Game rankings also feature two historic first-timers.
The Lewis Flyers broke into the Top 25 after sweeping Davenport, riding a powerful offense led by George Bilecki, who’s hitting .368 with 15 home runs. On the mound, Brendan Lawry has been lights out, holding opposing hitters to a .189 average while racking up 45 strikeouts in just 35 ⅓ innings. Lawry, a transfer from Eckerd, has quickly become an ace for the Flyers.
Joining them in the rankings for the first time ever is Thomas Jefferson. The Rams are 23-9 and just took three of four from Goldey-Beacom in a battle of top northeastern programs. With momentum on their side, TJ is becoming a team to watch.
| Rank | School | State | Record | Last Wk | Prev Rk |
| 1 | Tampa Spartans | FL | 29-6 | 4-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Angelo State Rams | TX | 30-7 | 4-1 | 2 |
| 3 | East Stroudsburg Warriors | PA | 24-6 | 4-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Central Missouri Mules | MO | 24-8 | 2-1 | 3 |
| 5 | North Greenville Trailblazers | SC | 32-8 | 3-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Millersville Marauders | PA | 24-5 | 3-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Florida Southern Moccasins | FL | 27-8 | 3-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Catawba Indians | NC | 26-10 | 3-1 | 8 |
| 9 | Minnesota State Mavericks | MN | 24-2 | 3-0 | 9 |
| 10 | Point Loma Sea Lions | CA | 22-10 | 0-0 | 10 |
| 11 | Texas Tyler Patriots | TX | 28-9 | 0-0 | 11 |
| 12 | Colorado Mesa Mavericks | CO | 26-8 | 4-0 | 15 |
| 13 | Lenoir-Rhyne Bears | NC | 31-6 | 5-0 | 14 |
| 14 | Westmont Warriors | CA | 28-9 | 3-1 | 13 |
| 15 | West Chester Golden Rams | PA | 25-7 | 3-2 | 12 |
| 16 | North Georgia Nighthawks | GA | 27-10 | 3-1 | 17 |
| 17 | Grand Valley State Lakers | MI | 23-9 | 3-1 | 24 |
| 18 | Lewis Flyers | IL | 24-6 | 5-0 | |
| 19 | Central Oklahoma Bronchos | OK | 28-8 | 4-0 | 19 |
| 20 | Young Harris Mountain Lions | GA | 26-11 | 2-2 | 16 |
| 21 | Cal State Monterey Bay Otters | CA | 21-12 | 2-2 | 18 |
| 22 | Chico State Wildcats | CA | 21-12 | 3-1 | 23 |
| 23 | Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks | ID | 27-10 | 4-0 | 25 |
| 24 | Thomas Jefferson Rams | PA | 23-9 | 5-1 | |
| 25 | Carson-Newman Eagles | TN | 27-11 | 1-3 | 22 |
| DROP | Davenport Panters | ||||
| DROP | Jessup Warriors |
NAIA
Preseason No. 1 LSU Shreveport isn’t just living up to the hype — they’re obliterating it. The Pilots extended their flawless record to 37-0 after steamrolling Texas A&M Texarkana in a three-game sweep that included a jaw-dropping 16-0 blowout.
Next up, they hit the road to face a scrappy Southwest squad sitting at 22-16 — a team with upset potential. After that, they’ll host No. 18 Houston-Victoria for a pivotal three-game set. With an offense hitting .363 and a pitching staff holding opponents to a minuscule .192 batting average, an undefeated regular season isn’t just possible — it’s starting to look probable.
Cumberlands’ Charlie Muñiz isn’t just having a big season — he’s putting together one of the best in NAIA history. Already a proven powerhouse with two .400+ seasons and a 36-homer campaign under his belt, Muñiz is somehow even better this year.
The senior catcher is slashing .452 with a nation-leading 26 home runs — four more than anyone else in the NAIA. He’s rocking a ridiculous 1.560 OPS, has started every game for the 33-6, third-ranked Patriots, and has only struck out 18 times all season.
Last week, Muñiz and the Pats obliterated Carolina University in a three-game sweep, outscoring them 52-2, including two shutouts from the pitching staff. With Tennessee Wesleyan midweek and a weekend series against Lindsey Wilson, the Patriots are primed to solidify their top-three status.
There was just one new team in the Top 25 this week, but they made a loud entrance. The Columbia Cougars edged out Grand View to snag the spot vacated by Morningside, who dropped six straight.
Columbia is flat-out raking at the plate, boasting a jaw-dropping team average of .379. They’ve got three everyday starters hitting over .400 and two more flirting with .390. Senior slugger Brayden McGinnis is the centerpiece, hitting .495 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs, and multiple hits in 14 of 34 games. He crushed Hannibal-LaGrange last weekend, helping Columbia post 51 runs in four games, and they added a solid 18-8 win over MidAmerica Nazarene midweek. Next up: a big test against NCAA DI Lindenwood and a four-game road trip to face Mission University.
At 24-4, Grand View remains the “first team out” — and while their record sparkles, the résumé needs a little more shine. The Vikings are a perfect 16-0 at home and on neutral turf, but they’re still missing a marquee win. Their lone game against ranked competition? A February doubleheader against Webber International — and they got swept.
| Rank | School | State | Record | Last Wk | Prev Rk |
| 1 | LSU Shreveport Pilots | LA | 37-0 | 4-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies | GA | 34-3 | 3-0 | 2 |
| 3 | Cumberlands Patriots | KY | 33-6 | 4-0 | 3 |
| 4 | Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs | TN | 29-10 | 3-1 | 4 |
| 5 | Reinhardt Eagles | GA | 29-8 | 2-2 | 5 |
| 6 | Faulkner Eagles | AL | 28-8 | 3-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles | OK | 34-5 | 4-0 | 7 |
| 8 | Webber International Warriors | FL | 29-9 | 3-1 | 8 |
| 9 | Loyola Wolf Pack | LA | 30-9 | 4-0 | 9 |
| 10 | Hope International Royals | CA | 34-6 | 5-0 | 10 |
| 11 | Taylor Trojans | IN | 30-7 | 2-2 | 11 |
| 12 | Southeastern Fire | FL | 32-6 | 4-0 | 12 |
| 13 | Missouri Baptist Spartans | MO | 28-9 | 4-0 | 15 |
| 14 | Arizona Christian Firestorm | AZ | 30-10-1 | 2-2 | 13 |
| 15 | Ottawa Braves | KS | 31-8 | 2-2 | 14 |
| 16 | Johnson Royals | TN | 27-10 | 3-1 | 23 |
| 17 | Concordia Bulldogs | NE | 26-8 | 4-0 | 18 |
| 18 | Houston-Victoria Jaguars | TX | 33-8 | 3-1 | 17 |
| 19 | Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes | KS | 27-11 | 4-0 | 20 |
| 20 | William Carey Crusaders | MS | 30-7 | 4-0 | 21 |
| 21 | Mid-America Christian Evangels | OK | 30-11 | 3-0 | 22 |
| 22 | Cumberland Phoenix | TN | 29-10-1 | 2-2 | 16 |
| 23 | Keiser Seahawks | FL | 25-8 | 2-2 | 19 |
| 24 | Columbia Cougars | MO | 31-5 | 3-0 | |
| 25 | Indiana Southeast Grenadiers | IN | 25-9 | 0-0 | 25 |
| DROP | Morningside Mustangs | IA | 24 |
NCAA DIII
After a brief hiatus, Johns Hopkins is back on top of the DIII baseball rankings — and they’re making it clear they intend to stay there. The Blue Jays notched four wins last week, sweeping a previously ranked Gettysburg squad and taking two more from Muhlenberg. A highly anticipated showdown with No. 9 Penn State Harrisburg was postponed, but Hopkins isn’t lacking in resume wins.
Their biggest weapon? Pitching. JHU’s staff boasts a stunning 2.76 ERA, sixth-best in the nation, despite facing a barrage of top-tier bats from programs like Endicott, Denison, and Salisbury — all currently ranked in the top six nationally.
Sophomore Drew Grumbles has been virtually untouchable, allowing just one earned run in 36 ⅓ innings for a microscopic 0.25 ERA, while racking up 50 strikeouts and surrendering only 19 hits. Meanwhile, Kieren Collins has been equally dominant, with a 0.86 ERA over 42 innings and a .212 opponent batting average.
While the top of the rankings stayed mostly intact, Case Western Reserve made a big splash, leaping from No. 24 to No. 14 after taking three of four from a strong Emory squad — their second straight series win against quality competition.
After a slow start, the Spartans are looking like the team many expected when they debuted in the preseason Top 10. Leading the charge is senior Nick Harms, who’s doing everything short of carrying the team on his back. He’s hitting .425 with 7 doubles, 4 triples, and 8 home runs — and he’s also a perfect 12-for-12 on stolen bases.
Three programs earned spots in this week’s Perfect Game DIII Top 25 — and for one, it’s their first ever.
Cal Lutheran is no stranger to the rankings and returns after heating up at the right time. The Kingsmen are gearing up for a huge three-game showdown with No. 7 La Verne this weekend, backed by standout starters Luke Wechsler (1.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP in 53 IP) and Leo Bristow (2.18 ERA, 57 Ks in 45 ⅓ IP).
UT Dallas continues to turn heads, moving to 23-3 after taking two of three from East Texas Baptist and earning a statement win over Concordia (TX) — all on the road. The Comets are making just their second appearance in the national rankings, and they’ve earned every bit of it.
Gustavus Adolphus cracked the rankings for the first time in school history. The Gusties racked up wins over St. Scholastica and Saint John’s (MN) and have scored double-digit runs in each of their last five contests. They’re riding a wave of momentum straight into the national spotlight.
| Rank | School | State | Record | Last Wk | Prev Rk |
| 1 | Johns Hopkins Blue Jays | MD | 24-3 | 4-0 | 2 |
| 2 | Endicott Gulls | MA | 18-3 | 4-0 | 3 |
| 3 | Denison Big Red | OH | 17-4 | 1-1 | 1 |
| 4 | UW-Whitewater Warhawks | WI | 17-0 | 4-0 | 4 |
| 5 | Lynchburg Hornets | VA | 24-4 | 4-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Salisbury Seagulls | MD | 22-5 | 3-0 | 7 |
| 7 | La Verne Leopards | CA | 22-3 | 3-0 | 8 |
| 8 | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags | CA | 21-6 | 2-1 | 6 |
| 9 | Penn State Harrisburg Lions | PA | 21-5-1 | 4-1 | 9 |
| 10 | UW LaCrosse Eagles | WI | 17-2 | 4-0 | 11 |
| 11 | Kean Cougars | NJ | 22-5 | 4-0 | 15 |
| 12 | Trinity Tigers | TX | 23-7 | 2-1 | 14 |
| 13 | Salve Regina Seahawks | RI | 14-7 | 2-1 | 10 |
| 14 | Case Western Reserve Spartans | OH | 17-9 | 3-1 | 24 |
| 15 | Eastern Connecticut St. Warriors | CT | 16-5 | 3-0 | 17 |
| 16 | Coe Kohawks | IA | 18-5 | 4-1 | 19 |
| 17 | UT Dallas Comets | TX | 23-3 | 3-1 | |
| 18 | Babson Beavers | MA | 13-6 | 2-2 | 12 |
| 19 | Rowan Profs | NJ | 16-7 | 2-2 | 16 |
| 20 | East Texas Baptist Tigers | TX | 16-10 | 1-2 | 13 |
| 21 | Centre Colonels | KY | 21-7 | 2-2 | 20 |
| 22 | Cal Lutheran Kingsmen | CA | 20-7 | 2-1 | |
| 23 | Concordia (TX) Tornados | TX | 23-8 | 0-2 | 18 |
| 24 | Gustavus Adolphus Gusties | MN | 19-4 | 3-0 | |
| 25 | Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens | CA | 16-10 | 23 | |
| DROP | Shenandoah Hornets | VA | 21 | ||
| DROP | Gettysburg Bullets | PA | 22 | ||
| DROP | Misericordia Cougars | PA | 25 |