NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Little East Conference placed a conference-best three institutions on the latest edition of the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division III Poll, highlighted by Keene State College’s third place ranking. The Owls are joined by No. 6 Rhode Island College and No. 8 University of Southern Maine.

The top three schools in the New England Division III poll remain unchanged for the third consecutive week with Trinity College (Conn.) and Wheaton College (Mass.) ahead of Keene State College. The Bantams (23-0) earned all six first place votes for a total of 48 points, while the Lyons (23-6) and the Owls received 41 and 36 points, respectively. The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) has two honorees in the eight-team rankings, just one shy of the Little East Conference contingent.

Under the direction of Head Coach Ken Howe, Keene State College is currently riding a five-game winning streak to raise its overall record to 18-5 and earn the No. 19 ranking in the latest D3Baseball.com Division III National Poll. The Owls have been hitting the cover off the baseball, ranking seventh nationally in team batting average (.368). Freshman catcher Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) paces three other Keene State College hitters batting over .400, registering 32 hits in 69 attempts. DiPrato ranks among the national leaders in batting average (31st, .464). The Owls return to the diamond at 3:30 p.m. on April 16, when they host Little East Conference intra-state rival Plymouth State University.

Rhode Island College is making its debut in the New England regional rankings, holding the No. 6 ranking after receiving votes last week. Head Coach Jay Grenier has led his charges to seven consecutive victories and wins in 12 of the past 14 contests to improve the Anchormen’s overall record to 20-7, marking the third straight season with at least 20 victories. Junior right fielder Chris O’Connors (North Kingstown, R.I.) and senior second baseman Pete Olson (North Providence, R.I.) have fueled the offensive attack, hitting .423 and .420, respectively. O’Connors leads the squad in batting average, doubles (11), and on-base percentage (.513), while Olson paces the team in hits (42), slugging percentage (.590), and total bases (59). Rhode Island College returns to action at 3:30 p.m. on April 16, when the Anchormen travel to Curry College.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Ed Flaherty, the University of Southern Maine slipped four spots in the latest regional rankings to No. 8. The Huskies have won five of their past six contests, including earning a split with Eastern Connecticut State University this past weekend. Junior infielder Chris Burleson (Portland, Maine) has been the offensive catalyst, leading the team in batting average (.411), doubles (7), hits (37), on-base percentage (.509), slugging percentage (.656), stolen bases (12), and triples (3). Southern Maine returns to action at 4 p.m. on April 16, when the Huskies travel to Colby College for a non-conference tilt.

The fourth edition of the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division III Poll is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 22.