UT Continues to Hold Top Spot in National, Regional Polls
TAMPA, Fla. - With a 35-8 record and 15-6 showing to top the Sunshine State Conference, the University of Tampa baseball team continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in two of the four national polls and is No. 1 in the NCAA Division II South Region poll.
Among the four polls, Tampa is ranked No. 1 by College Baseball Lineup and D2 Baseball News. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of American (NCBWA) both list UT at No. 3.
The Spartans also carry the top ranking for the second consecutive week in the NCAA regional release, as the top eight teams in the region will receive a bid to the 2012 NCAA Division II tournament. Additionally, the top team in the region also has an advantage in hosting its respective regional.
Tampa has been particularly impressive on the mound, with a team earned run average (ERA) of 2.37. UT has 10 of its 11 pitchers with a sub-4.00 ERA and four below 2.00.
The Spartans are now ranked third in the nation in team ERA, second in lowest walks per nine innings at 2.15 and 13th in lowest hits allowed per nine innings at 7.97. Additionally, UT's .814 winning percentage is seventh in the country.
Among individuals, Eric Grabe is seventh in the nation with seven sacrifice flies. Ben O'Shea is also 13th in walks allowed per nine innings at 1.08.
UT has been ranked the entire season and has now been represented in the national poll for a program-record 125 consecutive weeks.
Tampa will close out the regular season as it will host Nova Southeastern University for a weekend series. The set will begin Friday at 6 p.m., and conclude with a 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday with Senior Day festivities set for between games. Live stats will be available through TampaSpartans.com.
Click here for the NCAA Division II Regional poll
Click here for College Baseball Lineup poll