Feb. 23, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. -- Baylor climbed two spots in this week's Baseball America Top 25, released Monday by the publication. This is Baylor's highest ranking since ending the 2005 season fourth and its highest regular-season ranking since a No. 3 ranking the week of May 8, 2000.

The Bears, who took two of three against Pacific at Baylor Ballpark over the weekend, join top-ranked Texas A&M (4-0) and fourth-ranked Texas (4-0) to give the Big 12 Conference three top-10 teams. Missouri, which was 1-3 on the weekend, dropped from 10th to 15th, while Oklahoma (4-0) remained at No. 16. Oklahoma State (4-0) entered the ranking at No. 25.

Other 2009 Baylor opponents ranked this week are No. 5 UC Irvine, No. 9 UCLA, No. 10 Rice and No. 23 TCU. This weekend's Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park features half of Baseball America's top 10 with Texas A&M, UC Irvine, Baylor, UCLA and Rice all participating in the event. Baylor plays UCLA Saturday and Rice Sunday.

Baylor returns to action Monday night, hosting BYU at Baylor Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 CST.

BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25
February 23, 2009
1. Texas A&M
2. LSU
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. UC Irvine
6. BAYLOR
7. Cal State Fullerton
8. Arizona State
9. UCLA
10. Rice
11. San Diego
12. Georgia
13. Ole Miss
14. Stanford
15. Missouri
16. Oklahoma
17. Pepperdine
18. Kent State
19. Clemson
20. Georgia Tech
21. Arkansas
22. Florida State
23. TCU
24. Florida
25. Oklahoma State

2009 Baylor opponents in bold.

For more Baylor baseball information, check out Straight from the Pen.