NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -Riding the momentum of a 16-game win streak, the University of Southern Maine earned the program's highest ranking this morning in two of the premier national baseball polls. The Huskies sit atop the latest edition of the D3Baseball.com Top 25 poll, while vaulting up 17 spots in the American Baseball Coaches Association survey to No. 3. Senior outfielder Ryan Pike (Saco, Maine) was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Player of the Week.           

The Huskies (28-3) became the second Little East Conference institution to earn the top ranking in the D3Baseball.com national listings this season after Eastern Connecticut State University held the top spot for three consecutive weeks (March 22-April  5, 2009). The Huskies earned 10 first-place votes and 584 total points to move up five positions to the top of the charts. Southern Maine has been ranked among the top-10 clubs in nine of the 10 weekly polls.

Under the direction of Head Coach Ed Flaherty, the Huskies are enjoying the program's highest regular season ranking in the ABCA Top 30 poll. Southern Maine made impressive gains in the bi-weekly survey, moving up 17 positions and gaining 128 points. The Huskies staggering rise in the coaches' poll can be attributed to their 16-game winning streak, including a 14-0 mark since the previous poll was released.

Southern Maine's offensive attack has been nothing short of explosive over the past two weeks,  scoring at least 10 runs 12 times, including 20 or more four times. The Huskies average 12.4 runs per game to lead the nation in scoring, while also ranking among the top teams in runs (third, 383), doubles per game (eight, 2.81), slugging percentage (eight, .557), batting average (11th, .358).

Pike helped then-No. 5 Southern Maine to an 8-0 week, batting .447 (17-for-38) with 13 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs, and 28 RBI. The senior outfielder hit safely in seven of his eight games, including six multiple-hit efforts. Pike drove in multiple runs six times, including matching the school-record with nine RBI against St. Joseph's College. He went five-for-six with a double and two home runs against the Monks.

Southern Maine returns to action at 4 p.m. on April 22, when the Huskies travel to Bates College for a non-conference contest.