LSU hangs on to top spot as contenders close in Hall of Fame Power Poll

LUBBOCK, Texas – As it has done all season, LSU remains atop the College Baseball Hall of Fame Power Poll, but its lead is shrinking and for the first time this season, the Tigers were not the unanimous choice.

LSU still holds the No. 1 spot but did not receive all first-place votes as No. 2 Florida garnered one to chip away at the Tigers’ lead, just four points behind. LSU (26-5) had a 2-1 week but split a conference doubleheader against No. 8 South Carolina (28-4), with one game being washed out by weather. The Gators (27-6) had a 3-1 week and took two of three games in SEC play from No. 12 Tennessee (22-10).

Wake Forest (28-4) stays at No. 3 after taking both games of an ACC doubleheader from No. 22 North Carolina State on Sunday and is just one point behind Florida, while No. 4 Vanderbilt (26-6) took two of three from Missouri in SEC play and is just five points behind Wake Forest. Stanford (21-7) rounds out the top five this week and moves up a spot after a perfect weekend and a three-game Pac-12 sweep of rival California.

The rest of the top 10 consists of No. 6 Arkansas (24-6), which took two of three in SEC play from Ole Miss, No. 7 Louisville (24-7), which stunned up-and-coming Boston College with a three-game ACC sweep, No. 8 South Carolina, No. 9 North Carolina (22-10), which took two of three in ACC play from Georgia Tech, and No. 10 Kentucky (27-5) after a 2-2 on the week, holding steady despite dropping an SEC series against Georgia.

No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 22 North Carolina State tied for the biggest drop in the poll this week, each falling five spots. OSU (24-10) went 1-3 on the week with a loss to Wichita State and dropping two of three in Big 12 action at TCU, while NC State had the split with Wake Forest in addition to dropping a game to No. 18 East Carolina.

One new team makes its debut in the poll this week. Coastal Carolina (20-9) took two of three from Georgia Southern in Sun Belt Conference action to jump in at No. 24, tied with Iowa (22-8), which returns to the poll after a 3-1 week that included a Big Ten series victory over Indiana.

Dropped out: Campbell, Old Dominion.
Also receiving votes: Campbell 5, Old Dominion 5, Arizona State 4, Connecticut 4, Boston College 2, TCU 1.