Sam Houston State has climbed a spot, to No. 27, in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll after debuting at No. 28 last week.

The Bearkats currently sit in first in the Southland Conference standings with a two-game lead over A&M-Corpus Christi. With two wins over Central Arkansas this weekend the Kats will claim a second consecutive outright Southland Championship.

Five teams fell out of the top 30 in Stanford, South Florida, Cal. Poly, Troy, and Rice. New to the poll are Seton Hall, U.C. Irvine, Oklahoma St., Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina.

SHSU is receiving votes for the second consecutive week in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Poll.

The Bearkats host Central Arkansas for a three-game weekend series starting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Two wins will secure a second consecutive outright Southland Championship.

All three games this weekend are “Youth Baseball Days.” Any youth baseball and softball player who wears their uniform to the game will receive free admission and parent's tickets start at $6.

Friday is the final “First Financial Family Night” where each purchase of a reserved seat gets a free hot dog, popcorn, and drink.

Saturday's game will be followed with a team autograph session and kids will have the opportunity to run the bases.