WINGATE, N.C. –  The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Week 9 poll on Wednesday, and Hillcat baseball checked in at a program-best seventh with 377 points. The MIAA leaders are the highest-ranked team from the league in both the national and regional polls this week.
 
In the latest NCBWA Central Region Rankings, RSU claimed the top position with 105 points and eight first-place votes – marking their first time topping this list in school history. The remaining top five teams in the regional standings are Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri State and Augustana.
 
In the national rankings, Colorado Mesa leads with 494 points, followed by defending national champion Tampa with 481 points and Catawba at 453 points. Other MIAA schools ranked include Pittsburg State (ninth), Central Missouri (14th) and Northwest Missouri State (23rd).
 
Rogers State (31-5, 19-3 MIAA) secured its season series against Arkansas-Fort Smith yesterday in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with a 17-3 victory in eight innings, marking the team's 11th run-rule win of the season. At the plate, Sammy Harris recorded three doubles, while Nathan Gutierrez was a triple shy of the cycle. Damon Anderson-Wolf delivered another solid performance in his seventh start of the season on the mound to remain undefeated at 8-0.
 
Last weekend, the Hillcats also achieved a 2-1 series victory against national runner-up Central Missouri, which was ranked No. 4 by the NCBWA and No. 7 by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) at the time. In addition, they secured the season series against in-state rival Central Oklahoma, earning a 10-0 run-rule victory in eight innings last Tuesday at RCB Bank Sports Complex.
 
Additionally, Rogers State reached a milestone in its historic 2026 season, ranking ninth with 220 points in the ABCA Week 8 poll.

The Hillcats will welcome the No. 23 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to the RCB Bank Sports Complex this Thursday through Saturday, with the schedule altered due to weather. For more information and updates on the schedule, visit 2026 Baseball Schedule - Rogers State University Athletics.