IRVING — Conference USA announced the results of its 2016 baseball preseason poll on Wednesday and UTSA was selected to finish sixth in the vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Roadrunners, 33-25 overall and 17-13 in C-USA play last spring, returns 17 players from last season, including all-conference performers Trent Bowles and Chance Kirby, in addition to 18 newcomers. Bowles also recognized as a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American last year, which was the program’s seventh such honoree.
Earning the unanimous vote as league favorite was Rice. The Owls have won either the regular season or tournament championship in each of the last 10 years. Rice’s Blake Fox was designated as the C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Florida Atlantic was selected runner-up and is followed by Southern Miss, FIU and Old Dominion to round out the top five. In the bottom half, Middle Tennessee was selected to finish seventh, followed by UAB, Western Kentucky, Charlotte, Louisiana Tech and Marshall.
UTSA will open the 2016 campaign at the friendly confines of the Bird Bath on Feb. 19 when it hosts Connecticut in a three-game series.
2016 Conference USA Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Rice (12)
2. Florida Atlantic
3. Southern Miss
4. FIU
5. Old Dominion
6. UTSA
7. Middle Tennessee
8. UAB
9. Western Kentucky
10. Charlotte
11. Louisiana Tech
12. Marshall