For the first time ever, Florida A&M University has moved into the No. 1 ranking in the Black College Nines 2016 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll announced on April 5, 2016.
The Rattlers are 18-9 overall, 8-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), winners of 4 of their last 5 games, received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. Florida A&M, in an MEAC Southern Division conference three-game series, swept foe North Carolina Central University this past weekend to take the series. Right behind Florida A&M and dropping down for the first time in two seasons to the No. 2 spot in the poll rankings from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is Alabama State University.
Jackson State University locked down the No. 3 position for a second straight week, but significant movement occurred throughout the rest of the poll. Grambling State University rose four spots to No. 4, Norfolk State University moved up one spot to No. 5, Bethune-Cookman University climbed three spots to No. 6. Two teams slipped in the poll, Texas Southern University dropped two spots to No. 7 while North Carolina Central University fell four spots to No. 8. Two teams entered the poll for the first time this season, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at No. 9 and Savannah State University, which shares the No. 10 spot with Prairie View A&M University.
In the “small school” division, for the second consecutive week, Benedict College retains the No. 1 ranking in Black College Nines Top 10 rankings. The Tigers, having won 7 of its last 10 games, are 19-8 overall and 3-3 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). As a team, Benedict has 10 players with batting averages of .300 or better in 27 games so far this season.
Several teams bettered their previous poll rankings, Miles College moved up into the No. 2 spot while Edward Waters College jumped from No. 4 to No. 3, Paine College jumped one spot to No. 4 as Selma University fell three spots from No. 2 to No. 5. Of the remaining top 10, making their first appearance in the 2016 poll is Winston Salem State University at No. 6 and West Virginia State University comes in at No 7. Jarvis Christian leaps two spots to No. 8 while Talladega College drops three spots from No. 6 to No. 9. Like West Virginia State, Harris-Stowe State College also entered the rankings for the first time, rounding out at the Top 10.
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 Florida A&M University MEAC 18-9 2
2 Alabama State University SWAC 19-12 1
3 Jackson State University SWAC 17-11 3
4 Grambling State University SWAC 11-16 8
5 Norfolk State University MEAC 11-14 6
6 Bethune Cookman University MEAC 11-18 9
7 Texas Southern University SWAC 13-13 5
8 North Carolina Central University MEAC 13-16 4
9 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff SWAC 8-18 NR
10 (tie) Prairie View A&M University SWAC 8-17 7
10 (tie) Savannah State University MEAC 9-20 NR
Small School Division
No. School Conference W-L Previous
1 Benedict College SIAC 19-8 1
2 Miles College SIAC 22-11 3
3 Edward Waters College GCAC 19-11 4
4 Paine College SIAC 19-11 5
5 Selma College Independent 17-8 2
6 Winston Salem State University CIAA 16-16 7
7 West Virginia State University MEC 12-8 NR
8 Jarvis Christian College RRAC 15-22 10
9 Talladega College GCAC 14-16 6
10 Harris Stowe State University AMC 15-18 NR
Courtesy: Black College Nines
