Radford Baseball Tabbed Fourth In Big South Preseason Poll

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Radford University baseball was selected to finish fourth in the Big South's annual preseason poll as voted by the League's Head Baseball Coaches and Sports Information Directors and announced today by the Conference office.

The Highlanders, which were selected to finish last in the 2004 poll, finished 14-10 in League play, good for fourth place and 23-30 overall.

Winthrop was chosen first in the poll. The Eagles received 16 first-place votes and received 159 out of a possible 162 points in claiming the top spot, ending Coastal Carolina’s five-year reign as the preseason favorite, finished ahead of the 2004 Big South champion Chanticleers by 13 points (two first-place votes, 146 points). Coastal Carolina, ranked 34th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll, finished out of the top spot for the first time since the 1999 season.

Birmingham-Southern, a 2004 NCAA Tournament participant as an at-large selection, placed third with 115 points, and was followed by Radford (86 points) and Charleston Southern (77) in the poll. Liberty (67), VMI (57), UNC Asheville (56) and High Point (46) round out the voting.

The Highlanders open their season Feb. 11 at Old Dominion at 3:00 pm. RU’s first home game will be on March 5 versus Longwood at 3:00 pm.