While defending champion Southern Indiana remained on the sidelines, set to begin their quest for a repeat title a week later than most, many of the teams in the top 25 rankings took the field this weekend to kick off their 2019 seasons.
Sixteen teams ranked in the season-opening Top 25 took to the field this weekend, assembling a record of 49-22. #9 Texas A&M-Commerce enjoyed the week’s best showing from a ranked team, one of four ranked teams not to lose, and posting a 5-0 mark at the Arkansas Tech Tournament. Just two ranked teams, #18 Palm Beach Atlantic and #20 Arkansas Tech, ended the weekend with losing records, at 1-2 and 2-3, respectively.
#2 Southern Arkansas posted a perfect 3-0 record on the weekend, posting a trio of shutouts and scoring eighteen runs, with just three home runs for the usual hard-slugging Mulerider team.
North Georgia and Saint Leo, the only other active Top 5 teams, both had so-so showings out of the gate. Ranked #3 to start the year, North Georgia have already matched their regular-season loss total from a year ago with a pair of losses on opening weekend, including a shutout defeat at the hands of Auburn-Montgomery. Saint Leo went .500 with a 3-3 record, with losses to West Florida; West Georgia; and Delta State murkying a resounding 13-5 win over Alabama-Huntsville.
Other showings of note included #6 Angelo State (4-1); #14 Tarleton State (5-1,with five straight wins to finish the weekend); and #22 Valdosta State (4-0).
Nine ranked teams will have to wait a bit longer to kick off the 2019 season. Most teams will kick off over the next two weeks, while #24 Gannon’s first regular-season tilt isn’t until March 3.
Credit where it’s due to a trio of non-ranked teams that performed well to open the season. Texas A&M-Kingsville and second-year head coach Craig Nicholson opened the year 5-0, including a victory over ranked Augustana, and outscoring their opponents 25-6… West Florida and rookie head coach Ashleigh McLean are now 4-0 with a dominant 9-2 win over Saint Leo already on the resume…. Delta State began the year being shutout at the hands of Embry-Riddle, but put together four straight wins that also included a win over Saint Leo. The week 2 tournament in Huntsville, Alabama will be a true test of the Lady Statesmen as they face a pair of top-15 teams back-to-back to start things off.
