Oregon St. Edges Upward In Polls

Despite a loss last week to Oregon, the combination of sweeping Utah and formerly 5th ranked Virginia losing 3 of 5 games last week has moved Oregon St. up from #6 to #5 in this week's Baseball America Top 25 poll. North Carolina, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Fullerton St. remained the top 4.

Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game, and the USA Today Coaches' Assistant Sports Information Directors polls all also moved the Beavers up from #6 to #5 as well. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. has Oregon St. at #6.

Pac-12 leading Oregon added a weekend sweep at California to their victory over Oregon St. to jump back into the top 10, landing at #10 after being #16 last week.

Arizona St., who had moved ahead of Oregon a week ago after winning their series against the Ducks, stayed one step ahead, moving up from #15 to #9 after beating UNLV and then taking 2 of 3 from USC, all on the road.

UCLA remained in 3rd place in the Pac-12, but played entirely out of conference this past week. The Bruins beat Hawaii and took 2 of 3 from Loyola-Marymount, and moved up from #17 to #13.

No other Pac-12 teams are ranked, but Cal-Poly and Gonzaga, an opponent of Oregon St.'s earlier in the season, both moved back into the top 25, with the Mustangs at #23 and the 'Zags at #24.

Cal-Poly got a win at Cal St.-Bakersfield, and then took 2 of 3 from Hawaii, while Gonzaga got a win at Portland, Oregon St.'s opponent this Wednesday, and then a 3 game sweep of St. Mary's.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com