(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern baseball team has been ranked No. 24 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Preseason Division II Coaches Poll, the organization announced today.
The Lions were 40-14 last season and won both the regular season and MIAA post season titles. Southern advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the past three years.
Southern finished the 2015 season ranked No. 24 nationally and the Lions return three out of their four top starting pitchers that led the MIAA in ERA, shutouts, strikeouts per nine innings, strikeout to walk ratio, WHIP and walks allowed (fewest) per nine innings. Cody Hutchinson, last year's MIAA Pitcher of the Year, returns to headline a starting rotation that also returns All-MIAA and All-Region pitcher Payton Walkerand All-American utility player Chris Hoffman. The trio combined for a 24-5 overall record last year, while striking out 194 and walking just 42.
Hoffman and Hutchinson were both All-American's, as well as designated hitter/first basemen Jesse Rall. Rall hit .376 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs, tying the MSSU single-season record for homers, while Hoffman hit .426 with 83 hits, 56 runs scored and eight home runs to go along with 39 RBIs. He led the team with 18 stolen bases in just 22 attempts.
Southern is the top ranked MIAA program with Emporia State coming in ranked at No. 38. Other Central Region ranked opponents include Minnesota State (5), St. Cloud (6), Southern Arkansas (14), Henderson State (16), Southern (24), and Emporia State (38).
The team, altogether, returns six All-MIAA performers, as well as five position starters and three starting pitchers. Southern begins the 2016 season at home by playing host to Bemidji State on Feb. 13-15.
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