PEMBROKE, N.C. – The MSU Denver baseball team has tightened its grip on its No. 13 ranking in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Division II poll.
 
After securing 234 poll points while earning its highest national ranking since 2008 last week, the Roadrunners picked up more support and now how 273 poll points.
 
The Roadrunners, off to a 15-3 start, open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this weekend with a four-game series at perennial power Colorado Mesa (9-6), which recently dropped out of the top 25 but is still receiving votes.
 
MSU Denver leads Division II in hits (246), ranks second in runs (210), doubles (55) and home runs (35), and is fifth in slugging percentage (.605).
 
Ross Smith is one of four players with a nation-leading 11 doubles, while Zach Schuler is second in RBIs (32) and Cody Schultz is fifth in runs (29). Closer Eric Cox is second in the country with five saves, and Jack Slominski is tied for fourth with four wins.