Statesmen Up to #27 in Latest Poll

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The William Penn baseball team not only recently secured a regular season crown, but also got a bit closer to being in the top 25 as the NAIA released its final regular season poll Tuesday.

WPU (33-10, 18-6 Heart) advanced four spots from last rating to #27 with 48 points. The squad is the second program in the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the ranking, joining #17 Central Methodist.

Southeastern (Fla.) is still #1 with 494 points and 13 first-place votes. Tennessee Wesleyan is second with four first-place nods, while Faulkner (Ala.), Georgia Gwinnett, and Cumberlands (Ky.) round out the top five. Science and Arts (Okla.) is seventh, but owns the final first-place vote.

The Statesmen open this week’s Heart Championships (Ozark, Mo.) as the top seed and host #8 seed Baker Thursday at 10 a.m. in the opening round of the double-elimination event.