LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Southwestern University baseball team was picked to finish fourth in the preseason Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) poll, which was released on Friday.
The Pirates received 30 points from a vote of the league's head coaches.
Trinity was picked as the preseason favorite after collecting six of seven first-place votes and 48 total points. The Tigers, who advanced to the 2015 NCAA Division III World Series, were followed by Texas Lutheran, which earned one first-place vote and 39 points.
Defending regular-season champion, Centenary, picked up 36 points and is expected to finish third, one spot ahead of Southwestern.
The Pirates were followed by Dallas (18 points), Austin College (13) and Schreiner (12).
Southwestern completed its 2015 season with a 20-22 record, including an 8-10 mark in SCAC play. Will Cates returns for his senior season after earning SCAC Player of the Year honors last spring.
Led by fourth-year head coach RJ Thomas, the Pirates will open their 2016 campaign Feb. 5-6, at the Firehouse Classic in Montgomery, Alabama. Southwestern will play tournament host Huntingdon, Millsaps and Randolph-Macon during their season-opening weekend.
The Pirates will open their home slate Friday, Feb. 12, against Whitworth.
– SOUTHWESTERN –