Baseball America released its preseason Top-25 and defending national champion Rice is ranked number one. The Owls also placed three pitchers on Baseball America's preseason All-America teams while San Jose State's Matt Durkin was named to the third team.
Juniors Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend earned first team honors for the Owls while their teammate, junior Philip Humber, was a second team selection. Niemann was 17-0 last year with a 1.70 ERA and 156 strikeouts. Townsend went 11-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 164 strikeouts and Humber was 11-3 with a 3.30 earned run average (138 strikeouts). Durkin, a junior, was 7-6 with a 2.60 ERA and 110 strikeouts.
For the top 25,
click here.
For the complete list of All-America teams,
click here.