NSIC RELEASE
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana was picked fifth in the 2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The Vikings received 104 points from the league's 13 head coaches.
Minnesota State was selected as the preseason favorite with 133 points and four first-place votes. St. Cloud State checked in at No. 2 (132 points, six first-place votes), Winona State was third (130 points, three first-place votes) and Wayne State was No. 4 (105 points).
Augustana first baseman/pitcher
Derek Hansen and pitcher
Tyson Gau were also tabbed players to watch.
Hansen, a junior from Fergus Falls, Minn., batted .263 with seven doubles and two home runs last season. He also stole nine bases. On the mound, the right hander went 5-4, owned a 4.74 ERA and struck out 62 batters.
A junior right hander from Alexandria, S.D., Gau made 11 starts last season and finished with a 7-3 record. He led the Vikings in strikeouts (67) and innings pitched (67.0) and charted a 3.49 ERA.
Concordia University, St. Paul's Bryan Lippincott was named the conference's preseason player of the year, while WSU's Kodey Simon earned preseason pitcher of the year laurels.
Augustana finished the 2011 season 30-24, marking the program's second consecutive 30-win season. The Vikings finished fifth in the NSIC with a mark of 20-12 and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history.
The Vikings open the season March 10 and 11 with a three-game series at Drury (Mo.).
2012 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll
|
1. |
Minnesota State (4) |
133 |
|
2. |
St. Cloud State (6) |
132 |
|
3. |
Winona State (3) |
130 |
|
4. |
Wayne State |
105 |
|
5. |
Augustana |
104 |
|
6. |
Minnesota Duluth |
86 |
|
7. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
80 |
|
8. |
Upper Iowa |
63 |
|
9. |
Southwest Minnesota State |
53 |
|
10. |
Bemidji State |
50 |
|
11. |
Northern State |
39 |
|
12. |
U-Mary |
27 |
|
13. |
Minnesota, Crookston |
12 |
