Alabama State University retained the top spot in Black College Nines’ Top 10 HBCU large school baseball poll announced on April 26, 2016.
The Hornets, 26-14 overall and 18-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play, topped the rankings for the third time this season. Alabama State preserved its No. 1 after going 3-1 last week while sweeping a three-games series from conference East Division foe Mississippi Valley State. In that series, the Hornets scored 50 runs while pitchers allowed one run the entire series. For the second week in a row, Florida A&M University maintained its No. 2 ranking. [easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B008R9PX6M” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
Significant movement occurred throughout the rest of the poll as five teams changed spots and three squads held their positions from last week. Norfolk State University rose three spots to No. 4. Grambling State University dropped down a spot to No. 4 as Bethune-Cookman University remained at No. 5. Of the remaining top ten, Jackson State University dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 and University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff moved up one spot to No. 7. Meanwhile North Carolina Central University slid down from No. 6 to No. 8 as both No. 9 Texas Southern University and No. 10 Alcorn State University round out the top ten.
In the small school division, Edward Waters College maintained the top spot in Black College Nines’ Top 10 ranking. The Tigers, 31-11 and 10-0 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), completed the four-game sweep of conference rivals Voorhees College, running its school record win streak to now 18 consecutive games.
Once again there were slight changes for the remaining top four. West Virginia State University climbed up two spots to No. 2, its highest ranking thus far this season. Selma University stayed at No. 3 as Miles College fell from No. 2 to No. 4. The remaining top ten stayed put this week. Winston Salem State University at No. 5, Paine College at No. 6, Benedict College at No. 7, Stillman College at No. 8, Jarvis Christian College at No. 9 and Talladega College at No. 10 to round out the small school top ten.
The crowning of Black College Nines National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 24th, 2016 at 10 AM (EST) on the Black College Nines’ website.
The Voting Committee of Black College Nines determines the Top 10 rankings. Overall records do not include ties.
Large School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 26-14 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 24-14 | 2 |
| 3 | Norfolk State University | MEAC | 20-16 | 7 |
| 4 | Grambling State University | SWAC | 19-19 | 3 |
| 5 | Bethune-Cookman University | MEAC | 19-22 | 5 |
| 6 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 23-21 | 4 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | SWAC | 17-20 | 8 |
| 8 | North Carolina Central University | MEAC | 21-22 | 6 |
| 9 | Texas Southern University | SWAC | 16-19 | 9 |
| 10 | Alcorn State University | SWAC | 13-25 |
Small School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 31-11 | 1 |
| 2 | West Virginia State University | MEC | 23-11 | 4 |
| 3 | Selma University | Independent | 24-8 | 3 |
| 4 | Miles College | SIAC | 29-15 | 2 |
| 5 | Winston Salem State University | CIAA | 27-19 | 5 |
| 6 | Paine College | SIAC | 26-18 | 6 |
| 7 | Benedict College | SIAC | 27-17 | 7 |
| 8 | Stillman College | SIAC | 24-22 | 8 |
| 9 | Jarvis Christian College | RRAC | 24-25 | 9 |
| 10 | Talladega College | GCAC | 20-22 | 10 |
Courtesy: Black College Nines
