It was a pretty ho hum week in DII baseball, at least in the sense that the teams in the top 10 that needed to win all took care of business. While that means there isn’t a lot of change in the latest Power 10, the big news came in the first regional “rankings” where there were quite a few surprises.
DII BASEBALL 2025
📊 The previous Power 10
⚾️ Ashland baseball’s John Schaly talks bats, balls, and his record-setting win
🔮 Wayne’s way-too-early guesses on the eight for Cary
🏆 Tampa looks to set the record for most DII baseball championships
Along with these weekly Power 10 rankings at NCAA.com and my weekly “Field of 56” projections at the DII Report, I also vote on the D2 Baseball top 25 poll. I bring that up because, while they didn’t make the Power 10 this week, Mississippi College cracked my top 25 for the first time ever and is playing like a team looking to wreak havoc in a tricky South Region. They have won five in a row, with a win against West Florida, a midweek victory over Arkansas-Monticello, and a huge sweep of GSC leader Delta State this weekend. All three are tournament-bound teams at the moment, and MC made a huge statement this week to enhance its resume.
Your weekly Power 10 reminder: These rankings are not a simple equation based solely on metrics, nor is it voted upon by a body of people around the game. It is a combination of both, weighing what is happening on the field with what is happening on paper. DII baseball is a sport all its own; wins and losses do not necessarily define a team. It is the longest of any sport. It ends after softball and spans five months, with most teams playing four to five games a week. Expecting a team to sweep every weekend is simply irrational.
The DII baseball Power 10 rankings (Week ending April 27)
No. 1 Angelo State, Tampa | Previous: 1 (tied). The Spartans have the second-best RPI in DII baseball, the best KPI and have played the fourth-toughest strength of schedule. So, the fact that they are amid a 14-game winning streak tells you everything you need to know. If you wanted to add more fuel to the fire, the Spartans also have a top pitching staff in the division, with a top 10 ERA and WHIP.
Tampa is separating itself from the Rams on paper, but Angelo State also keeps winning, so it is tough to drop the Rams from this tie at the top. The Rams have the top RPI and PI in the South Central and a top 10 KPI in DII baseball, so all the metrics are there. They are also one of the most dangerous lineups in DII, No. 1 in batting average and runs scored, to name a few.
No. 3 Central Missouri | Previous: No. 3. The Mules actually lost a game this week, but still went 3-1 overall. They have the fourth best RPI in DII, the No. 3 KPI and the top PI in the Central Region. They also have a deep lineup with five players hitting above .340 and four with double-digit home run and 113 stolen bases with speed up and down their lineup.
No. 4 Catawba| Previous: 9. The Indians have won six in a row and now have the top RPI, KPI and PI in the Southeast Region which all helped them become this week’s biggest movers. They have a big one this week against Lenoir-Rhyne, a team they lost to earlier this season, before the SAC tournament begins. The thing that makes Catawba dangerous is that there isn’t a superstar among the bunch, but a lineup and pitching rotation stuffed with very good players. The depth makes them tough to beat, especially in a short series.
No. 5 North Greenville| Previous: No. 4. The Trailblazers had the “worst” week among the top 10, with a relatively big loss to first-five-out North Georgia, but I still don’t see a reason to drop them too low. Spots Nos. 4-9 are separated by a thread, so they can go a wide array of ways and is the exact reason it is good to have multiple polls. There were no concerns about the hitting — this is one of the top run-producing lineups in DII — but the pitching was something to watch. Over the past month or more, the staff has looked like a playoff-ready rotation and bullpen, and this team is going to be tough in the strongest region in DII baseball.
No. 6 Millersville| Previous: 5. Since March 1, the Marauders are 32-6 and have won series from West Chester, Jefferson, Shippensburg and Goldey-Beacom — all four of which found themselves in contention for the bracket in the first regional rankings Again, college baseball isn’t about wins and losses, but meaningful wins vs. meaningful losses. Millersville’s meaningful wins greatly outweigh its meaningful losses, which leads to the best RPI in the Atlantic Region loaded with top 25 teams.
No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne| Previous: 8. The Bears keep winning and hitting the baseball… a lot. This is a 40-win team that would be battling for the top spot in any other region but right now may be the four seed in a loaded Southeast Region that has five teams appearing in these rankings. From the leadoff spot to cleanup, this team can flat out rake: each of the top four players in the lineup is hitting at least .380 with at least 10 home runs and at least 44 runs scored.
No. 8 Minnesota State| Previous: No. 6. This was a big week for the Mavericks as they defeated Augustana (SD) 3-1 in their weekend series. Minnesota State is a tough team to rank based on metrics — the record is great, the RPI is great, but due to a low SoS, it also has a low PI and KPI, and may wind up as low as the fourth or fifth seed in the Central Region right now. Still, its pitching has been superb and the Mavericks hit the ball well, and must be considered a real threat to reach Cary.
No. 9 UT Tyler| Previous: No. 7. Yes, the Patriots fell, but remember what I said: Nos. 4-9 are separated by fractions. This team is still very good as evidenced by their 14-game winning streak. That includes this past weekend’s huge four-game sweep over a St. Mary’s (TX) team appearing in the first regional rankings. The South Central is tough, with only six teams making the bracket. With a season split against Angelo State and now series wins against St. Edward’s and St. Mary’s, the Patriots have all but locked up a bid for the postseason.
No. 10 Young Harris | Previous: 10 (tied). The Mountain Lions hold onto the No. 10 spot, despite seeing their seven-game winning streak snapped this weekend. The main reason is their series win over North Georgia this year, as well as series wins over North Greenville, Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey and UNC Pembroke — all of which are in the first regional rankings. This team is loaded with resume building wins.
First five (ish) out (in order)
- Colorado Mesa/North Georgia. The Mavericks are streaking, winners of five in a row and look to have the RMAC well in hand. The Nighthawks took down North Greenville and clinched the PBC this week in what has been a storybook season… so far.
- Pittsburg State. The Gorillas have won 18 of their last 20 games and could very well be the No. 2 seed in the Central Region right now.
- Florida Southern/Westmont. The Mocs and Warriors are similar conundrums to me. Both have immense talent, but both have some curious losses this year. That said, they are also two of the best teams in DII baseball all season long.
- East Stroudsburg/Point Loma. East Stroudsburg can separate itself this week with a series win over Millersville — a team that has lost one weekend series all year. Point Loma has an eight-game winning streak and needs to finish strong to make the tournament… which it should be able to do with all the talent on its roster.
