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Baseball Tabbed 11th in Preseason Poll
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With the official start of baseball season just over a week away, the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason baseball poll has been released and the Spartans were picked 11th, the conference office in Macon, Ga., announced today.
A season ago, USC Upstate finished 19-37 overall and posted an 8-19 mark in league play. The Spartans won three of their final four conference series as they defeated Campbell (Harley Park, Apr. 16-17), Stetson (DeLand, Fla., May 7-8) and Kennesaw State (Harley Park, May 14-15).
Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer tied for first place in the poll as the Eagles and the Bears each picked up a total of 112 points. The Eagles received five first-place votes, while the Bears received four. Mercer was chosen to repeat as A-Sun tournament champions.
ETSU was selected third and received one first-place vote, with Jacksonville following in fourth with the final first-place vote.
Rounding out the poll was Stetson (73 points), Belmont (61), North Florida (56), Kennesaw State (46), Lipscomb (39), Campbell (25) and Upstate (13).
A-Sun Preseason Selections and Poll:
Preseason Player of the Year: *Paul Hoilman, 1B, Sr., ETSU
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Richie Erath, SP, Sr., FGCU
First Team All-Atlantic Sun
Pos. Name (Class) School
SP * Richie Erath (Sr.) FGCU
SP Matt McCall (So.) Mercer
SP Matt Tomshaw (Sr.) Jacksonville
RP Jon Ivie (Sr.) Belmont
C Derek Trent (Sr.) ETSU
1B * Paul Hoilman (Sr.) ETSU
2B Mikel Alvarez (Sr.) FGCU
3B * Jacob Tanis (Jr.) Mercer
SS Stephen Wickens (Sr.) FGCU
OF Dylan Craig (Jr.) Belmont
OF Dan Gulbransen (So.) Jacksonville
OF Adam Brett Walker (So.) Jacksonville
DH * Nate Woods (Sr). Belmont
* - Unanimous Selection
Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll
Pl. School (1st) Points
T1. FGCU (5) 112
T1. Mercer (4) 112
3. ETSU (1) 98
4. Jacksonville (1) 91
5. Stetson 73
6. Belmont 61
7. UNF 56
8. Kennesaw State 46
9. Lipscomb 39
10. Campbell 25
11. USC Upstate 13
