BATON ROUGE — LSU is ranked No. 30 in the 2008 Collegiate Baseball magazine preseason poll released Friday.
LSU’s appearance in the preseason poll marks its first ranking since Feb. 12, 2007, when the Tigers were voted No. 29 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
“It’s a good first step for our program,” second-year LSU coach Paul Mainieri said of the ranking. “We appreciate the recognition which I think comes from having the top recruiting class in the country. Obviously, we want to be better than No. 30 as the season progresses and return our program to a position of national prominence.”
LSU’s recruiting class, which included nine players selected in the Major League Baseball draft, was ranked No. 1 in the nation in September by Collegiate Baseball.
The 2008 squad also features 10 position players with starting experience, including 2006 all-SEC shortstop Michael Hollander and a pair of 2007 Freshmen all-SEC selections ? outfielder Blake Dean and catcher Sean Ochinko.
The Tigers return seven pitchers who recorded innings last season, including 2008 preseason all-American Jared Bradford, LSU’s leader in wins (10) and saves (five).
LSU will play 43 games against teams receiving recognition in the Collegiate Baseball poll ? 17 games against ranked opponents and 26 games versus teams receiving votes in the poll.
The Tigers’ schedule features 17 games against squads appearing in the Top 40, including No. 2 South Carolina, No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 20 Kentucky, No. 27 Mississippi State, No. 32 UL-Lafayette, No. 34 Southern Miss and No. 36 Stetson.
LSU opponents receiving votes in the poll include Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, New Orleans, Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Southern.
LSU begins preseason practice on Feb. 1, and the Tigers open the season on Feb. 22 versus Indiana in Alex Box Stadium.
2008 Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll
(2007 records in parentheses)
1. Arizona (42-17)
2. South Carolina (46-20)
3. Arizona St. (49-15)
4. Mississippi (40-25)
5. North Carolina (57-16)
6. Rice (56-14)
7. San Diego (43-18)
8. Texas (46-17)
9. Wichita St. (53-22)
10. Michigan (42-19)
11. Vanderbilt (54-13)
12. Florida St. (49-13)
13. Clemson (41-23)
14. Miami, Fla. (37-24)
15. Missouri (42-18)
16. Cal. St. Fullerton (38-25)
17. Long Beach St. (39-20)
18. UCLA (33-28)
19. Oregon St. (49-18)
20. Kentucky (34-19-1)
21. Fresno St. (38-29)
22. Texas A&M (48-19)
23. Louisville (47-24)
24. Virginia (45-16)
25. Georgia Tech. (32-25)
26. U.C. Irvine (47-17-1)
27. Mississippi St. (38-22)
28. Baylor (35-27)
29. Pepperdine (35-22)
30. LSU (29-26-1)
31. Oklahoma St. (42-21)
32. Louisiana-Lafayette (45-17)
33. Southern Illinois (34-22)
34. Southern Miss. (39-23)
35. U.C. Riverside (38-21)
36. Stetson (42-21)
37. Coastal Carolina (50-13)
38. Nebraska (32-27)
39. California (29-26)
40. Oral Roberts (40-17)
OTHER TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES: Georgia, Alabama, Creighton, South Florida, Notre Dame, Winthrop, Arkansas, Old Dominion, Texas-San Antonio, New Orleans, Oklahoma, East Carolina, Tulane, Kent St., Houston, Central Michigan, Texas Christian, Central Florida, Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Southern California, Stanford, Washington, Washington St., College of Charleston, Rutgers, Western Carolina, Penn. St., Minnesota, Ohio St., North Carolina St., Wake Forest, Hawaii, Virginia Commonwealth, Louisiana Tech., Nevada, LeMoyne, Troy, Kennesaw St., Richmond, St. John’s, Old Dominion, Austin Peay, Southern.