SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Ole Miss sees major fall after another sweep
Two weeks of conference play are in the books on the diamond in the SEC, and the action has been pretty exciting, to say the least. Over the second weekend of league play, some intriguing matchups headlined the schedule and drastically impacted the latest SEC baseball power rankings.
Four of this weekend’s series were decided in the fashion of a sweep. Those results had a major impact on the D1Baseball top 25 rankings on Monday, as Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri all fell out of the top 25. Seven teams remain in the top 25 from the SEC, which is still a very impressive number.
This week’s SEC baseball power rankings saw some more movement, with six teams moving up or down at least two spots.
Updated SEC Baseball Power Rankings
1. LSU
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1 in SEC play)
Overall record: 21-3 (4-2)
Previous ranking: No. 1
LSU had another good week to begin SEC play, keeping the Tigers atop the loaded conference. On Tuesday, LSU began the week with a 10-4 victory at home against Central Arkansas. Then, a highly anticipated series against No. 5 Arkansas awaited over the weekend. The Razorbacks took Friday’s series opener 9-3, but LSU responded with two wins on Saturday during a doubleheader, winning the first game 12-2 and the second 14-5.
LSU is now 21-3 overall and off to a 4-2 start in SEC play. The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday night vs. Grambling before hosting No. 10 Tennessee for a three-game series starting on Thursday.
2. Vanderbilt
Weekly record: 3-0 (3-0)
Overall record: 19-5 (6-0)
Previous ranking: No. 2
Entering SEC play last week, the knock on Vanderbilt was built around questions about the offense. It’s safe to say those questions have been silenced. Vanderbilt’s midweek matchup at Lipscomb was canceled on Tuesday this week, and the Commodores hit the road for a trip to Mississippi State over the weekend. Vanderbilt completely ambushed the Bulldogs, winning 26-3 on Friday, 18-5 on Saturday and 11-7 on Sunday, sweeping the weekend by a combined 55-15 score.
The Commodores will now play vs. Lipscomb at home on Tuesday. Now 6-0 in SEC play, Vanderbilt then hosts Georgia for a three-game series starting on Friday.
3. Florida
Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)
Overall record: 22-4 (5-1)
Previous ranking: No. 3
While some of the expected top teams in the SEC have fallen off this season, Florida has done the opposite. The Gators are 22-4, which includes a 5-1 start in SEC play. Florida picked up a quality 9-5 midweek win over Florida State on Tuesday this week before facing No. 12 Ole Miss, who was in desperate need of a win. The Gators didn’t let that happen, though, winning 9-7 and 12-8 in Saturday’s doubleheader and then 7-4 to complete the sweep on Sunday.
Florida is again in action against Florida State on Tuesday this week, and then Auburn comes to town for a series beginning on Friday.
4. Arkansas
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 20-4 (4-2)
Previous ranking: No. 4
The week started in impression fashion for the Razorbacks, winning 12-2 over Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday and then 9-3 over No. 1 LSU on Friday. Arkansas then was tasked with a Saturday doubleheader, which is a tough assignment in itself, but even more so against the top team in the country. LSU took both games of the doubleheader.
Arkansas would have liked to steal another game against LSU, but it’s tough to count it against them too much, especially in the doubleheader setting. The Razorbacks are back at home on Tuesday against Omaha before hosting Alabama from Friday to Sunday.
5. Tennessee
Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)
Overall record: 19-6 (3-3)
Previous ranking: No. 6 (+1)
After getting swept on the opening weekend of SEC play, Tennessee was in need of a strong rebound. The Vols did just that, answering the sweep with a sweep of their own against No. 21 Texas A&M. Tennessee first picked up a 7-0 win over Western Carolina on Tuesday, and then beat the Aggies 10-4 on Friday, 8-7 on Saturday and 9-6 on Sunday. It was a close series, but the Vols got a much-needed strong weekend to get back on track.
Getting back to 3-3 in league play was vital for Tennessee. After hosting UNC Asheville on Tuesday, the Vols travel to Baton Rouge and face No. 1 LSU beginning on Thursday night.
Weekly record: 3-1 (3-0)
Overall record: 23-2 (6-0)
Previous ranking: No. 7 (+1)
South Carolina’s week got off to a tough start, falling 6-2 against a scrappy Charlotte team on the road. The Gamecocks responded in great fashion, though, completing an impressive sweep over No. 22 Missouri. South Carolina won 9-8 on Friday before winning both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader, 8-1 in the first game and 5-4 in the second game that went 12 innings.
The Gamecocks are back on the road for four games this week, starting on Tuesday at The Citadel before heading to Starkville to take on Mississippi State starting on Thursday.
7. Kentucky
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 21-3 (5-1)
Previous ranking: No. 11 (+4)
You really couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year if you’re Kentucky. The Wildcats went 3-1 this week, starting with a win on Tuesday against Eastern Kentucky. They then hit the road for a trip to Alabama over the weekend and took the first two games of the series, 4-3 on Friday and 9-5 on Saturday. Kentucky couldn’t complete the sweep in a crazy game on Sunday, though, with Alabama winning 4-3. That loss snapped a 17-game winning streak.
Kentucky is on the road against Western Kentucky on Tuesday, and then faces Missouri over the weekend.
8. Ole Miss
Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)
Overall record: 15-9 (0-6)
Previous ranking: No. 5 (-3)
Ole Miss was in need of a bounce-back week after starting SEC play 0-3, and the Rebels picked up a midweek 11-1 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday to kick things off. But over the weekend against No. 3 Florida, Ole Miss faltered again. The Rebels dropped all three games, losing 9-7 and 12-8 in the two games of a Saturday doubleheader before falling 7-4 on Sunday to end the series.
Ole Miss is now 0-6 in SEC play, and a challenging week awaits. The Rebels host Southern Miss on Tuesday before heading to College Station for a series at Texas A&M starting on Friday.
9. Missouri
Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)
Overall record: 17-6 (3-3)
Previous ranking: No. 8 (-1)
Missouri was hot to begin the year, and even more so after picking up a sweep on opening weekend of SEC play. The Tigers couldn’t continue the surge on the second weekend, getting swept at the hands of South Carolina. The Tigers did beat Kansas on Wednesday, but then lost 9-8, 8-1 and 5-4 against the Gamecocks.
Missouri has five games this week, all of which are on the road and three of which are against a ranked team. The Tigers face Illinois on Tuesday and then Lindenwood on Wednesday before facing off against No. 18 Kentucky over the weekend.
10. Auburn
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 16-7-1 (2-4)
Previous ranking: No. 12 (+2)
Auburn had a good week, which was important after starting conference play 0-3 last weekend. The Tigers beat South Alabama 6-5 on Tuesday, and then hosted Georgia for a three-game series starting on Thursday. Auburn took the first two games, winning 7-6 in 11 innings on Thursday and then 6-3 on Friday. Georgia took the final game by a resounding 24-7 score, but the Tigers still earned the series victory.
Next up is a Tuesday matchup against North Alabama before a three-game road series at No. 3 Florida starting on Friday.
11. Texas A&M
Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)
Overall record: 15-9 (1-5)
Previous ranking: No. 9 (-2)
Three out of Texas A&M’s four games on the week were close, but only one resulted in a win. That came on Tuesday against Rice, winning 8-7. The Aggies then lost to No. 12 Tennessee three times over the weekend – 10-4 on Friday, 8-7 on Saturday and 9-6 on Sunday. A disappointing year continues in College Station, now sitting at 1-5 in SEC play.
Texas A&M’s schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a home date against No. 21 Texas on Tuesday before facing an Ole Miss team that was ranked in the top five just two weeks ago coming to town over the weekend.
12. Alabama
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 19-6 (2-4)
Previous ranking: No. 10 (-2)
Alabama started the week in strong fashion, defeating UAB 12-2 in midweek action on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide then hosted No. 23 Kentucky over the weekend, and the Wildcats had the last laugh. Kentucky won 4-3 on Friday and 9-5 on Saturday, although Alabama did avoid the sweep with a 4-3 victory on Sunday.
After hosting Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday, Alabama is on the road for another tough matchup against No. 6 Arkansas starting on Friday. A series win would go a long way in stopping Alabama’s fall in the SEC power rankings.
13. Georgia
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 15-9 (1-5)
Previous ranking: No. 13
After being swept last weekend, Georgia was in need of a bounce-back. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they weren’t quite able to get that. Georgia won 8-3 at Georgia State on Tuesday, but then fell 7-6 to Auburn on Thursday and 6-3 on Friday. Georgia’s bats woke up in a big way on Sunday, taking the series finale against Auburn 24-7 to avoid the sweep.
Georgia is now 1-5 in SEC play and a tough weekend awaits. The Bulldogs host Georgia Southern on Wednesday, but then head to Nashville to take on No. 4 Vanderbilt starting on Friday.
Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)
Overall record: 14-11 (0-6)
Previous ranking: No. 14
Conference play has been disastrous for Mississippi State. After going 0-3 last weekend, the Bulldogs again had no answers this weekend, although it was against a quality competitor in No. 4 Vanderbilt. Mississippi State’s pitching could not find an answer all weekend, giving up 55 total runs across three games. The Bulldogs did win on Tuesday against Arkansas State, winning 16-2. But heading into the third weekend of league play, they are still looking for their first conference win.
After hosting Samford on Tuesday, the Bulldogs host a red-hot No. 9 South Carolina team starting on Thursday.