League coaches voted Missouri Western No. 2 in the 2014 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Baseball Coaches’ Preseason Poll released Thursday morning. This marks the second consecutive season that the Griffons were ranked second in the preseason poll. Last season the Griffons won their first ever MIAA Title finishing with a 40-12 overall record and 28-5 record in MIAA play. The 40 victories was a school record.
The Central Missouri Mules received 12 of a possible 14 first place votes earning the top spot with 168 points. Central Missouri finished second in the MIAA a season ago earning a trip to the NCAA Central Regional.
Missouri Western who had their best season in school history earns the No. 2 spot with one first place vote and 144 points. The Griffons are ranked 17th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll. The Griffons are followed by No. 3 Central Oklahoma who received the final first place vote and 139 points. The Bronchos finished last season with 29-19 overall record and 23-16 record in MIAA play.
The Emporia State Hornets and the Missouri Southern Lions are tied for the 4th spot with 128 points. The Lions are coming off a season where they earned a spot in the NCAA Regional by upsetting the Griffons in the championship game of the MIAA Tournament.
The Pittsburg State Gorillas come in 6th with 110 points while the Lindenwood Lions and Northeastern State RiverHawks come in 7th and 8th with 98 and 94 points respectively. Fort Hays State sits comfortably in 9th with 73 points while Nebraska-Kearney sits 10th with 57 points.
Northwest Missouri State (11th), Washburn (12th), Southwest Baptist (13th) and Lincoln (14th) wrap up the final four spots with 49, 37, 34 and 15 points respectively.
Griffon Baseball team opens the 2014 regular season on the road this weekend in Searcy, Arkansas as they take on Harding in a four game series. Doubleheader action begins on Saturday at 12 PM followed by a 1 PM start on Sunday. The Griffs set a school record for wins a year ago going 40-12 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second time. Saturday’s opponent Harding was picked to finish sixth in the Great American Conference this season and was 29-22 a season ago.
The Griffs open the home schedule at the Spring Sports Complex on Friday, February 21 as they host Northeastern State at 2 PM.
1. Central Missouri (12) 168
2. Missouri Western (1) 144
3. Central Oklahoma (1) 139
T4. Emporia State 128
T4. Missouri Southern 128
6. Pittsburg State 110
7. Lindenwood 98
8. Northeastern State 94
9. Fort Hays State 73
10. Nebraska-Kearney 57
11. Northwest Missouri 49
12. Washburn 37
13. Southwest Baptist 34
14. Lincoln 15
— MWSU Sports Information —