RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics learned on Monday that the baseball team is ranked first out of 307 NCAA Division I baseball teams in the fifth ratings percentage index (RPI) rankings of the season.
 
Additionally, the Vaqueros rank 19^th in 11.7 College Baseball's week 4 mid-major power rankings.
 
This is the first time UTRGV has ever been No. 1 in the official NCAA RPI, which began in college baseball in 2013. The RPI is updated almost daily at NCAA.com.
 
In the initial RPI release on March 3, UTRGV ranked eighth, but moved up to fourth in the second release on March 5 after an impressive 9-5 victory at Houston, now the 81^st ranked team in the RPI, on March 4. UTRGV was ranked third in the next two RPI releases on March 6 and 7.
 
At 11-2, the Vaqueros are tied for the second-best start in program history, a feat last accomplished in 2012. If UTRGV beats Southern Mississippi, the 29^th ranked team in the RPI, on Tuesday, the Vaqueros will be off to their best start since 1979, when they started a program record 20-1.
 
All of UTRGV's 13 games have come against opponents currently ranking in the top 83 in RPI, including Southern Illinois (No. 3), Dallas Baptist (No. 25), North Dakota State (No. 46), Lamar (No. 57), and New Orleans (No. 83). The Vaqueros' strength of schedule ranks 15^th in the NCAA.
 
UTRGV benefits from playing in the Southland Conference, which is currently the highest ranked non-Power 4 conference in the RPI, ranking 5^th behind only the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten.
 
UTRGV is also excelling away from home, winning four true road games and a neutral site game, marking the first time UTRGV has started 5-0 away from home since before 1970 and possibly ever. UTRGV is 4-0 in true road games for just the third time since 1970 after previously doing so in 1980 and 1973. Three of those road wins are in Southland play, making UTRGV 3-0 in conference road games for the first time ever in an NCAA Division I conference.
 
UTRGV is 6-0 is Southland play, their beset conference start since 2012, when they started 8-0 in Great West Conference play, which stands as the team's best start in an NCAA Division I conference.
 
The Vaqueros are currently on a seven-game winning streak for the first time since winning seven-straight from April 11-30, 2021.
 
The Vaqueros currently rank in the top 100 in 12 statistical categories, including:

Statistic	Total	NCAA Rank	SLC Rank
Winning Percentage	.846	22	1
Fielding Percentage	.980	29	3
Earned Run Average	3.50	31	2
Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings	7.81	49	3
Shutouts	1	57	3
Double Plays Per Game	0.85	61	3
Scoring	8.1	64	3
WHIP	1.39	77	5
Double Plays	11	82	4
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings	9.60	84	3
Doubles Per Game	2.08	85	3
Batting Average	.293	87	4

 
Twelve Vaqueros currently rank among the NCAA leaders in various categories, including:

Player	Stats	Total	NCAA Rank	SLC Rank
Jacob Limas	ERA	0.48	11	1
	Starts	4	12	2
Víctor Loa	Starts	4	12	2
	Wins	3	20	3
	Hits/9	4.76	40	3
	ERA	2.12	112	11
Jack Lopez	Appearances	7	79	2
Steven Oliva	Saves	2	56	4
Harrison Thayer	Saves	1	170	7
Wyatt Wiatrek	Wins	2	118	6
Steven Lancia	Triples	1	130	5
Isaac Lopez	Doubles/Game	0.60	12	2
	Sac Flies	3	16	1
	Runs/Game	1.40	54	4
	Hits/Game	1.60	86	4
	Doubles	6	93	4
	HBP/Game	0.40	126	5
	Toughest to Strike Out	10.3	134	4
	AVG	.390	187	8
	SLG%	.683	191	12
Armani Raygoza	RBI/Game	1.33	86	2
	SLG%	.739	98	5
	HR/Game	0.33	112	7
	Hits/Game	1.50	147	6
	HR	4	149	8
	AVG	.391	178	7
Damien Whitfield	Sac Bunts	2	115	6
	Sac Bunts/Game	0.17	117	7
Hank Warren	Sac Bunts	2	115	6
	Triples	1	130	5
	Sac Bunts/Game	0.15	147	9
Thomas Williams	Doubles/Game	0.46	86	5
	Doubles	6	93	4

 
After visiting Southern Mississippi Tuesday, UTRGV returns home for an eight-game homestand, hosting reigning Southland Conference Tournament Champion Nicholls, Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m., Texas Southern, March 18-19 at 6:30 p.m., and Houston Christian, the No. 65 team in the RPI, the following Friday through Sunday.
 
UTRGV currently ranks 35^th in the NCAA in total attendance (16,459) and 36^th in average attendance (2,057) and has already welcomed three of its 15 largest crowds since moving into UTRGV Baseball Stadium in 2002.
 
UTRGV has promotions lined up for each of game during the homestand, including:
Friday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. vs. Nicholls
Vaqueros Against Violence • Community Heroes Night • Superhero Night
•Domestic Violence Awareness Night, presented by the UTRGV Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention
•Free general admission for frontline workers, first responders, and teachers.
•Free general admission for fans wearing a superhero costume or shirt.
•Superhero costume contest, presented by Vaquero Outfitters.
 
Saturday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. vs. Nicholls
Swifties Night
•Make your own UTRGV friendship bracelet while enjoying the Taylor Swift songs you know all too well.
•Come dressed as Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce to compete in look-a-like contests.
 
Sunday, March 16, 12 p.m. vs. Nicholls
Presented by Main Event • Passport Day • Family Fun Day: 4 for $44
•Fans will receive all you can play wristbands, courtesy of Main Event, good from Sunday through Thursday.
•Fans that bring their passports will receive free general admission to the game.
•All Sunday home games feature the Family Fun Day: 4 for $44 promotion which includes four general admission tickets, four drinks, and four hot dogs for $44.
 
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. vs. Texas Southern
$2 Tuesday • Trivia: The Office
•General admission tickets are $2 and select concession items will be available for $2 or less.
•Join us in playing trivia related to the hit US sitcom, "The Office," in between innings.
 
Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. vs. Texas Southern
Wicked Wednesday
•In honor of the hit movie and musical, Wicked, come dressed in your best costume from Wicked with a chance to be popular by competing in the costume contest.
•Music from Wicked, both the movie and the musical, will be played throughout the night.
 
Friday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. vs. Houston Christian
Alumni Mixer and Hall of Fame Night
•UTRGV and legacy institution alumni are invited to come to a mixer starting at 5:30 p.m.
•The 2025 Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor induction class will throw out ceremonial first pitches.
 
Saturday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. vs. Houston Christian
956 Night • 50^th Anniversary of 1975 Team
•The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free "956" t-shirt.
•Help us welcome back the 1975 team to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of their record setting team that finished the season with a program record .900 winning percentage by going 63-7 en route to a berth in the NCAA South Central Regionals.
 
Sunday, March 23, 12 p.m. vs. Houston Christian
Presented by Main Event • Texas Regional Bank Card Day • Family Fun Day: 4 for $44
•Fans will receive all you can play wristbands, courtesy of Main Event, good from Sunday through Thursday.
•Fans that bring their Vaquero Debit Card from Texas Regional Bank will receive free general admission to the game.
•All Sunday home games feature the Family Fun Day: 4 for $44 promotion which includes four general admission tickets, four drinks, and four hot dogs for $44.
 
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with a student ID.
 
Top 25 RPI as of March 10, 2025

Team	Conference	RPI	SOS
UTRGV	Southland	1	15
Xavier	Big East	2	2
Southern Illinois	Missouri Valley	3	41
Tennessee	SEC	4	127
Clemson	ACC	5	69
Hawaii	Big West	6	17
Ole Miss	SEC	7	104
Vanderbilt	SEC	8	73
UCLA	Big Ten	9	34
Stanford	ACC	10	87
Arkansas	SEC	11	119
Minnesota	Big Ten	12	4
North Carolina	ACC	13	93
Fairfield	MAAC	14	72
Coastal Carolina	Sun Belt	15	64
Georgia	SEC	16	227
Texas	SEC	17	180
South Carolina	SEC	18	121
Florida Atlantic	The American	19	80
UConn	Big East	20	5
Troy	Sun Belt	21	153
Florida State	ACC	22	249
Southeastern	Southland	23	99
Alabama	SEC	24	185
DBU	Conference USA	25	101

 
Week 4 11.7 College Baseball Mid-Major Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1.	UC Irvine	11-4
2.	Troy	13-3
3.	Southern Mississippi	11-5
4.	Dallas Baptist	11-4
5.	UC Santa Barbara	13-2
6.	Coastal Carolina	12-4
7.	Western Kentucky	15-1
8.	Florida Atlantic	12-3
9.	UNC Wilmington	8-8
10.	College of Charleston	9-5
11.	Grand Canyon	11-4
12.	San José State	10-5
13.	Hawaii	11-4
14.	Tulane	11-3
15.	Xavier	7-9
16.	Liberty	11-4
17.	East Carolina	7-8
18.	UAB	13-3
19.	UTRGV	11-2
20.	Stetson	8-8
21.	Georgia Southern	10-6
22.	Southern Illinois	11-3
23.	East Tennessee State	12-3
24.	Southeastern	12-3
25.	UNLV	10-5

Support UTRGV Baseball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube