Cougar Baseball Tabbed Fifth in OVC Preseason Poll
Feb. 7, 2012
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - On the brink of its first Ohio Valley Conference season, SIUE baseball has been picked to finish fifth according to a preseason vote of the Conference's 10 head coaches.
SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins, entering his 34th season at the helm, returns a total of 21 letter winners from one season ago when the Cougars finished with a 28-24 record. SIUE played 19 games against OVC opponents last season, compiling a 15-4 record which would have placed the Cougars first in the Conference. SIUE amassed a perfect 10-0 slate against OVC foes at home. Overall, the Cougars were 19-4 at Simmons Baseball Complex.
Defending regular season and tournament champion Austin Peay was picked to finish first, garnering seven first place votes. Jacksonville State followed with one first place vote. Tennessee Tech, which earned two first place votes, was chosen third, while Southeast Missouri was selected fourth.
The entire preseason poll:
Order of Finish- Points
1. Austin Peay (7 first-place votes)- 79
2. Jacksonville State (1)- 73
3. Tennessee Tech (2)- 63
4. Southeast Missouri- 52
5. SIUE- 48
6. Eastern Kentucky- 45
7. Eastern Illinois- 34
8. UT Martin- 25
9. Murray State- 21
10.Morehead State- 10
(9 points awarded for first place vote, 8 for second etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.)
The entire release from the Ohio Valley Conference is available above.
