The Wayne State College baseball team is ranked seventh in the first NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings announced Wednesday afternoon (April 24) by the NCAA office in Indianapolis, Indiana. In games played through Sunday, April 21, the Wildcats were 24-10 overall and 20-7 against teams within the Central Region that is comprised of teams from the Northern Sun Conference, Great American Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
MIAA schools Central Missouri and Missouri Western rank first and second in the initial rankings with Minnesota State from the NSIC third. Southern Arkansas from the Great American Conference is fourth followed by St. Cloud State from the NSIC in fifth. Arkansas Tech (GAC), Wayne State (NSIC) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (GAC) rounding out the top eight teams in the region. Six teams from the region will advance to the NCAA Tournament with automatic bids granted to the conference tournament winners from the NSIC and MIAA along with the remaining four spots awarded on an at-large basis.
Wayne State hosts Minnesota State in a key NSIC and Central Region four-game series this weekend at the Pete Chapman Baseball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats are third in the NSIC with a 16-4 league mark and 24-10 overall record while Minnesota State is second in the league at 15-3 and 26-7 overall. Doubleheaders are scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Wayne.
NCAA Division II Central Region Baseball Rankings
Team Div. II Div. II
Overall In-Region
1. Central Missouri 31-9 30-8
2. Missouri Western 32-7 30-7
3. Minnesota State 26-7 21-6
4. Southern Arkansas 33-13 28-12
5. St. Cloud State 23-5 19-3
6. Arkansas Tech 29-18 23-16
7. Wayne State (Neb.) 24-10 20-7
8. Southwestern Okla. State 27-13-1 23-11
