Sun Belt Baseball Preseason Poll Announced Tuesday
Texas State selected to finish third in SBC West Division.
NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State baseball team was selected to finish third in the west division of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Tuesday morning.
The Bobcats collected 51 points and one first-place vote to land in the top half of the division. Louisiana was chosen to win the west after picking up nine first-place votes and 68 points. UTA, the defending division champion, was slotted second after receiving 56 points and the remaining two first-place votes. Arkansas State (36 points), Little Rock (27 points) and ULM (11 points) rounded out the division prognostication.
South Alabama earned all 12 first-place votes and was picked to win the SBC East Division with 72 points. Coastal Carolina settled into second with 59 points, and Georgia Southern landed in third with 43 points. Troy (41 points), Georgia State (20 points) and Appalachian State (16 points) rounded out the division projections.
The 2018 campaign is the second of division play in the Sun Belt Conference. Two divisions are comprised of six teams each, and divisional champions will be awarded at the end of the year based on the winning percentage against all teams, regardless of division.
Texas State is slated to open the year with a three-game home series against Big 12 foe Oklahoma State. The Bobcats and Cowboys will play Feb. 16-18 at Bobcat Ballpark.
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship is set for May 22-27 at Russo Park on the campus of Louisiana. The 2018 SBC Preseason All-Conference Team will be announced at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Tickets are on sale now for both TXST season ticket renewals and new purchases. The deadline for season ticket renewals is Feb. 2. Single game tickets will be made available for purchase Feb. 6. Patrons can purchase their tickets at the TXST Athletic Ticket Office located at Bobcat Stadium, by calling the office at 512-245-2272, or by logging into their account on TXStateBobcats.com/tickets.
The Bobcats are also set to host the 10th Annual Leadoff Dinner, which will be the showcase event of Alumni Weekend. The Leadoff Dinner will be held Feb. 9 at The Chandelier of Gruene in New Braunfels, Texas. The cocktail social mixer is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., with the dinner portion of the event to follow.
Former TXST baseball player and current MLB All-Star Paul Goldschmidt will serve as the guest speaker for the dinner. The Leadoff Dinner is an annual event that brings baseball alumni, Bobcat supporters, family, friends and the current team together to raise money for Texas State baseball and gain excitement for the upcoming season. For more information, contact Robbie Goldschmidt at 512-245-3383 or r_g516@txstate.edu.
2018 SBC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
first-place votes in parentheses
WEST DIVISION
- Louisiana (9) 68
- UTA (2) 56
- Texas State (1) 51
- Arkansas State 36
- Little Rock 27
- ULM 11
EAST DIVISION
- South Alabama (12) 72
- Coastal Carolina 59
- Georgia Southern 43
- Troy 41
- Georgia State 20
- Appalachian State 16
