SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College baseball team ranks 21st in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason poll, as announced today.
The Lakers, led by 11th-year head coach
Joe Spano, will begin their season Feb. 12 at Mars Hill before playing Feb. 13 and 14 at Brevard (N.C.) before making a spring trip to play in the Palm Beach Challenge. Mercyhurst begins its defense of the 2009 PSAC West regular season title Mar. 12 vs. Gannon.
The Lakers return six position players and half their starting rotation from team that posted a 40-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years. At the NCAA regional, Mercyhurst posted its best-ever finish with a 3-2 mark. Another highlight was a 10-6 win over top-ranked and eventual national champion Lynn University.
In other major polls, the Lakers rank 35th in the preseason 2010 NCAA Div. II Baseball Top 40.
To view the complete NCBWA poll, please click
here.