KENTUCKY (1/24/12)—The Louisville baseball team earned its second preseason ranking on Tuesday as the Cardinals were slotted at No. 24 in the Baseball America Preseason Top 25.
Last month, Louisville was ranked 15th in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper preseason poll. The Cardinals, who have earned a preseason ranking in four straight seasons, are the only current BIG EAST Conference team in the Baseball America Top 25, while future conference member Central Florida is at No. 21. Florida is the top-ranked team in the preseason poll.
The Cardinals—led by the return of preseason All-American pitcher and All-BIG EAST performer Justin Amlung—welcome back nearly the entire pitching staff and numerous position players with starting experience from last year's squad. Overall, Louisville returns 19 letter-winners from the 2011 team, which finished 32-29 overall.
Head coach Dan McDonnell enters his sixth season leading the Louisville baseball program. In his five previous seasons, McDonnell is 217-106 with two BIG EAST regular-season titles, two BIG EAST Tournament titles, four NCAA Regionals, two NCAA Super Regionals and one College World Series.
Louisville will open the 2012 season on Feb. 17 against Minnesota in Clearwater, Fla., on day one of the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge. The Cardinals’ home-opener at Jim Patterson Stadium is set for Feb. 22 against Eastern Kentucky.
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
2012 Baseball America Preseason Top 25
(Team - 2011 Record - Final 2011 Ranking)
1. Florida - 53-19 - 2
2. Stanford - 35-22 - 13
3. South Carolina - 55-14 - 1
4. Arkansas - 40-22 - 24
5. Arizona - 39-21 - NR
6. Rice - 42-21 - 15
7. Texas A&M - 47-22 - 7
8. Louisiana State - 36-20 - NR
9. North Carolina - 51-16 - 5
10. Vanderbilt - 54-12 - 4
11. Georgia - 33-22 - NR
12. Georgia Tech - 42-21 - 20
13. Texas - 49-19 - 6
14. UCLA - 35-24 - 22
15. Texas Christian - 43-19 - 19
16. Clemson - 43-20 - 21
17. Arizona State - 43-18 - 9
18. Miami - 38-23 - 17
19. Oklahoma - 41-19 - NR
20. Florida State - 46-19 - 8
21. Central Florida - 39-23 - NR
22. Mississippi - 30-25 - NR
23. Oregon State - 41-19 - 10
24. Louisville - 32-29 - NR
25. Cal State Fullerton - 41-17 – 14
Information provided by UofL Assistant Sports Information Director, Garett Wall
Posted by Luke Short—SurfKY News
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