CHARLOTTE - For the first time since the preseason polls ahead of the 2021 season, the Northwest baseball program has entered the latest NJCAA Division II Baseball Rankings, released Monday afternoon.

Northwest (22-8, 7-1 MACCC) was slotted at No. 18 in the Top 20 poll, following a split at No. 1 East Central last Saturday. The Rangers also beat the preseason No. 1 team, Heartland, earlier this month, earning a 3-0 shutout victory.

Northwest joins four other MACCC programs ranked in this week's polls. East Central (31-1) remains in the No. 1 spot, followed by No. 5 Pearl River and seventh-ranked Jones College. Additionally, fellow NJCAA Region 23 foe LSU-Eunice is ranked second.

Wallace-Dothan and Iowa Central round out the top five at third and fourth, respectively. Meridian and Mississippi Gulf Coast were unranked, but receiving votes.

Next up for Northwest will be a home twinbill against Holmes on Tuesday, March 26 at 3/6 P.M. The Rangers will then travel to face Hinds on Friday at 2/4 P.M.