Feb. 14, 2005
WACO, Texas - On the strength of a 3-0 showing at the season-opening Minute Maid Park College Classic over the weekend, Baylor's baseball team climbed two spots to No. 8 in this week's Baseball America Top 25. Included in the weekend was a 6-1 victory over now-No. 17 Rice. This is the highest ranking for the Bears since a No. 6 ranking in late March 2003.
The top seven spots did not change from last week's rankings with Tulane in the top spot, followed by Louisiana State, Cal State Fullerton, Texas, Miami, Stanford and South Carolina. The Bears leaped idle Georgia, which dropped to ninth, and Washington, which slipped to 12th from eighth after an 0-3 start.
UC Irvine made the biggest jump this week; unranked last week, the Anteaters slid into the 19th spot after sweeping Washington.
Several of Baylor's 2005 opponents appear in this week's poll. Along with Texas and Rice, the Bears have games this season against No. 11 Arizona State, No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 18 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Long Beach State, No. 23 TCU and No. 24 Oral Roberts.
Five Bears earned all-tournament honors at the Minute Maid Park College Classic: Zach Dillon, Josh Ford, Michael Griffin, Mike Pankratz and Trey Taylor. Baylor led all teams with five representatives.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting Texas-Arlington in the 2005 home opener at Baylor Ballpark. Sean Walker is scheduled to take the mound for the Bears. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25
Feb. 14, 2005
1. Tulane
2. Louisiana State
3. Cal state Fullerton
4. Texas
5. Miami, Fla.
6. Stanford
7. South Carolina
8. BAYLOR
9. Georgia
10. Arizona
11. Arizona State
12. Washington
13. North Carolina
14. Texas A&M
15. Florida
16. Mississippi
17. Rice
18. Vanderbilt
19. UC Irvine
20. Long Beach State
21. Georgia Tech
22. Notre Dame
23. TCU
24. Oral Roberts
25. Winthrop
