— The South Dakota State University baseball team has been picked to finish second in the Summit League regular season race, according to a poll conducted among the league’s coaches.
The Jackrabbits, 35-24 overall last year, turned in a runner-up finish during Summit League regular season play during the 2013 season with a 16-12 record. SDSU went on to claim its first Summit League postseason tournament title last season to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time at the Division I level.
Defending regular season champion Omaha received three first-place votes to claim the top spot in the 2014 preseason poll. SDSU received one first-place vote to garner its second-place projection. North Dakota State was third, followed by Western Illinois in fourth despite receiving a first-place vote. Fort Wayne rounded out the five-team field.
The Jackrabbits, led by head coach Dave Schrage, begin regular season play Feb. 14 versus Texas Southern in Jackson, Miss. Summit League play begins March 28, when the Jackrabbits travel to Western Illinois for a doubleheader. The 24-game league schedule concludes May 17, followed by the Summit League Baseball Championship, which SDSU will host, May 22-24.
Summit League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Omaha (3) 15
2. South Dakota State (1) 12
3. North Dakota State 10
4. Western Illinois (1) 8
5. Fort Wayne 5
(First-place votes in parentheses)
