Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Team Picked to Win MAC West Division
February 12, 2014 | Baseball
Ball State's baseball team was picked to finish first in the Mid-American Conference West Division by the league 12 head coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Cardinals finished the 2013 season with a 15-12 MAC mark and completed the season second in the West Division. Ball State advanced to the championship game of the league tournament before suffering a loss in the title game to Bowling Green.
Ball State returns 18 letterwinners for head coach Rich Maloney, who is in his second season in his second stint as the Cardinals' head coach. Maloney guided the 2013 squad to a 31-24 overall record.
The Cardinals are scheduled to open the 2014 season Friday vs. Morehead State at noon in Spartanburg, S.C. Ball State also has games scheduled vs. Dayton and South Carolina-Upstate on Saturday and a Sunday match-up with Wofford.
2014 MAC Baseball Preseason Poll
East Division Predictions
1. Kent State -- 71 points (11 First Place)
2. Bowling Green -- 52 points
3. Buffalo -- 50 points
4. Miami University -- 36 points (1)
5. Akron -- 24 points
6. Ohio -- 19 points
West Division Predictions
1. Ball State -- 57 points (4 First Place)
2. Central Michigan -- 56 points (3)
3. Toledo -- 54 points (4)
4. Northern Illinois -- 43 points (1)
5. Eastern Michigan -- 27 points
6. Western Michigan -- 15 points
Tournament Champions: Kent State (4), Ball State (3), Bowling Green (1), Central Michigan (1), Eastern Michigan (1), Miami (1), Toledo (1)
