SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Dominant week adds to tight standings

What a dominant week on the diamond it was for the SEC. The 14 teams in the loaded conference went a combined 50-9 throughout the week, with seven teams going undefeated and five suffering just a single loss. As a result, On3’s updated SEC baseball power rankings are as tight as ever.

College baseball season is a grind, and despite the season still being young, that grind was apparent over the last week. Injuries have hit some teams hard in the early weeks of the year.

The week also wasn’t without controversy, with Ole Miss’ two-game set against Louisiana Tech during midweek action coming under fire.

Additionally, D1Baseball unveiled their updated top 25 rankings on Monday, with nine SEC teams again making it in.

Updated SEC baseball power rankings

1. LSU

Weekly record: 4-0

Overall record: 10-1

Previous rank: No. 1

LSU enjoyed another strong week, beginning with an intriguing midweek matchup in Austin against Texas. The Longhorns and Tigers engaged in a low-scoring pitcher’s duel, and LSU eventually pulled ahead and secured a 3-0 victory. LSU welcomed both Butler and Central Connecticut to town over the weekend, which technically isn’t over yet. The Tigers defeated Butler 12-2 on Friday, and then demolished Central Connecticut by a combined score of 39-4 on Saturday and Sunday.

LSU and Butler will play again on Monday night, and the Tigers then host Lamar on Wednesday night. Over the weekend, the Tigers host Samford for a three-game series.

2. Ole Miss

Weekly record: 4-1

Overall record: 10-2

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week, terrible news struck at Ole Miss when ace Hunter Elliott went down with an arm injury. Luckily for the Rebels, they got positive news on Elliott this week, all things considered. He has a sprained UCL, which should sideline him for around a month, much better than original fears.

The week began with a loss for Ole Miss, as the Rebels fell 6-5 against Louisiana Tech on Tuesday. Louisiana Tech took the lead in the top of the seventh on Wednesday, just before inclement weather struck. The field was not tarped, and the game was eventually called. By rule, the score reverts back to the last full inning, which wiped Louisiana Tech’s lead and gave Ole Miss the 4-3 victory after six complete innings. That led to a fiery response from Louisiana Tech head coach Lane Burroughs.

Ole Miss went on to sweep the Cambria College Classic in Minneapolis over the weekend, beating No. 18 Maryland 5-1, Minnesota 9-7, and Nebraska 14-5. The Rebels host a solid Southern Miss club on Tuesday before Purdue comes to town for a three-game weekend series.

3. Tennessee

Weekly record: 5-0

Overall record: 11-2

Previous rank: No. 3

Tennessee has continued to play well after a disappointing opening weekend, as the Vols have now won 11 straight games after starting 0-2. The week began with a pair of midweek games against Charleston Southern, which the Vols won 6-1 and 8-2. Over the weekend, Tennessee swept Gonzaga after winning 8-2 on Friday, 7-2 on Saturday and 17-9 on Sunday to complete the 5-0 week.

Boston College comes to town on Tuesday night, before Tennessee hosts Morehead State for a three-game series over the weekend.

4. Florida

Weekly record: 3-2

Overall record: 10-3

Previous rank: No. 4

Florida had a bit of an up-and-down week, but the Gators still came out of it with three wins. The Gators had a split, two-game midweek series against Jacksonville, where Florida won on the road but fell 10-8 at home. Then, over the weekend, Florida played in a highly anticipated three-game weekend series against No. 22 Miami. The two teams split the first two games, with Florida winning 10-4 on Friday and Miami winning 14-5 on Saturday. During Sunday’s rubber match, Florida clinched the series win with a 14-4 victory.

The Gators host Florida Atlantic for a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday before Siena comes to town for three games over the weekend.

5. Vanderbilt

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 8-4

Previous rank: No. 5

It was a week with mixed results for Vanderbilt, though the Commodores ultimately enjoyed a successful stretch. Vanderbilt began by beating Austin Peay 11-7 on Tuesday before playing in the Cambria College Classic. The Commodores lost Friday’s opener 5-3 against Nebraska, but responded with a 8-7 win over No. 18 Maryland. Vanderbilt, needing a win against Minnesota on Sunday to go 2-1 on the weekend, did so in historic fashion after tossing a combined no-hitter (Greysen Carter, Sam Hliboki, Ryan Ginther and Nick Maldonado) during the 4-0 victory.

A five-game week awaits Vanderbilt, with Tennessee Tech and Evansville coming for midweek games on Tuesday and Wednesday before Loyola Marymount visits Nashville over the weekend.

6. Arkansas

Weekly record: 4-0

Overall record: 9-2

Previous rank: No. 6

Arkansas had just four games this week, but the injury bug hit the Razorbacks. Three pitchers left games during the week – Brady Tygart (who is out 5-6 weeks), Jake Feherty and Koty Frank. Despite those troubles, the Razorbacks enjoyed a perfect week. Arkansas kicked things off with an 11-inning, 10-9 win over Illinois State on Wednesday before cruising to a three-game sweep of Wright State over the weekend.

Arkansas is back in action on Tuesday against Army before Louisiana Tech comes to town over the weekend.

7. South Carolina

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 11-1

Previous rank: No. 7

South Carolina will not go undefeated this season. The Gamecocks entered the weekend with a perfect record, which was improved after winning 11-3 over North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. South Carolina then played in a three-game series with Clemson. Clemson hosted the first game, and the Tigers began the weekend with a 5-2 win. Saturday’s game was held in Greenville, SC, and the Gamecocks evened things up with an 11-9 victory. On Sunday back at home, South Carolina took the series with an emphatic 7-1 win. After the series win, three former Clemson players that are now Gamecocks poked some fun at their former program, noting that “The grass is indeed greener.”

The Gamecocks have two midweek games this week, with a home game against The Citadel and a road date with South Carolina Upstate. Then, Bethune comes to town over the weekend.

8. Alabama

Weekly record: 4-0

Overall record: 12-0

Previous rank: No. 8

Like South Carolina, Alabama entered the week with a perfect 8-0 record. That undefeated mark remains in tact for the Crimson Tide. Alabama kicked things off with a dominating 17-3 win over Jacksonville State on Tuesday before hosting Illinois-Chicago over the weekend. The Crimson Tide won the first two games by a combined 21-1 score before securing the sweep with a 9-7 victory on Sunday.

Alabama will be looking for another 5-0 week this time around. The Crimson Tide hit the road to take on Samford on Tuesday before returning home to host Alabama State on Wednesday and Columbia beginning on Friday.

9. Texas A&M

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 7-4

Previous rank: No. 9

Texas A&M needed a strong bounce-back after disappointing last week, and they did that for the most part. The Aggies stomped Houston Christian on Tuesday, winning 23-0 before beginning the Shriners Children’s College Classic in Houston on Friday. Texas A&M faced off against No. 14 Louisville on Friday, falling 14-5. The Aggies responded the rest of the weekend, though. On Saturday, Texas A&M earned a run-rule, 13-1 win over Rice. On Sunday, Texas A&M played in a 16-inning showdown against No. 24 Texas Tech, with the Aggies eventually winning 4-2.

Texas A&M hosts Incarnate Word on Tuesday before heading back to Houston to face Rice on Wednesday. Then, Northern Kentucky pays a visit to College Station over the weekend.

10. Auburn

Weekly record: 4-0

Overall record: 9-1-1

Previous rank: No. 10

Auburn’s week began with an 18-8 win over Florida A&M on Wednesday, but the weekend was much closer for the Tigers. Against Lipscomb, Auburn started the weekend with a 7-3 win on Friday. On Saturday, it was much closer with the Tigers narrowly winning, 12-11. Sunday was another one-run game, with Auburn completing the sweep behind a 4-3 victory.

Auburn hosts UAB on Tuesday before hitting the road for a trip to Jacksonville State on Wednesday. Then, Southeastern Louisiana comes to town over the weekend.

11. Georgia

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 8-3

Previous rank: No. 11

Georgia began the week by beating Presbyterian 11-6, and then played against a very strong Georgia Tech squad over the weekend. The Bulldogs took the first two games of the weekend, winning 7-2 on Friday and 16-6 on Saturday. Georgia Tech was able to take the final game of the series on Sunday, winning 4-1. But winning the weekend was very impressive by Georgia.

Georgia faces off against Georgia Southern for a pair of midweek games before hosting Charleston Southern over the weekend.

Weekly record: 4-0

12. Missouri

Overall record: 9-2

Previous rank: No. 13 (+1)

Missouri’s strong start to the year has continued, beginning with a resounding 17-2 win over Lindenwood on Tuesday. The Tigers were scheduled to begin their weekend series against Texas Southern on Friday, but weather pushed that back into a doubleheader on Saturday. Missouri won both ends of that doubleheader, 8-0 in the first game and 8-7 in the second. The Tigers then completed the sweep with a 15-7 win on Sunday.

Missouri hosts Western Illinois on Tuesday. Then, a four-game weekend series that includes a Saturday doubleheader awaits against NJIT.

13. Mississippi State

Weekly record: 2-2

Overall record: 7-5

Previous rank: No. 12 (-1)

The week began in impressive fashion for Mississippi State, knocking off No. 25 Southern Miss, 10-9. The weekend wasn’t the same, though. On Friday, the Bulldogs fell 8-3 against Ohio State in the first game of the Frisco College Baseball Classic before dropping Saturday’s game 15-9 against Oklahoma. Mississippi State salvaged a win on Sunday, defeating Cal 8-4 to finish the week at .500.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday against Valparaiso before hosting Lipscomb for a three-game series over the weekend.

14. Kentucky

Weekly record: 4-0

Overall record: 9-2

Previous rank: No. 14

Kentucky went 4-0 this week, but it wasn’t quite enough to move up in the rankings. The Wildcats began the week with a 15-1 win over Morehead State on Tuesday, but then played in a very tight three-game series vs. Indiana State. Kentucky won 4-2 in the front half of Saturday’s doubleheader before taking the second game 5-4. Sunday’s game was another one-run game, with the Wildcats finishing the sweep with a 7-6 win.

A pair of midweek games await Kentucky, with Murray State visiting on Tuesday and Ohio on Wednesday. Then, the Wildcats hit the road for a three-game series over the weekend against Southern Illinois.