Baseball tabbed third in NACC Preseason Poll

WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team was tabbed for a third-place finish in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2015, according to the league's preseason poll. The NACC released the poll Thursday morning, which was voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

The Falcons, in year two under head coach Eddy Morgan, finished third a season ago after being slotted eighth in the preseason poll. CUW started off 2014 with a 2-8 conference record before winning its final 10 NACC regular season games for the third-place finish. The Falcons went on to take second in the NACC Tournament, hosted at Kapco Park.

Two-time defending NACC champion Concordia Chicago is the heavy favorite to win the league again in 2015. The Cougars picked up 21 of 22 first-place votes, earning 241 poll points. Benedictine was picked second with 208 points, while the Falcons came in next at 192.

Rockford picked up the final first-place vote and was slotted fourth with 155 points. Dominican (134) and Edgewood (132) were picked as the final two teams expected to make the six-team conference tournament, again scheduled at Kapco Park this season in early May.

Marian (107) was seventh, followed by Aurora (99) and Wisconsin Lutheran (92). MSOE (64) and Lakeland (28) round out the poll.

The NACC's regular season standings will determine the six teams which qualify for the NACC Tournament. The tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

CUW is scheduled to open its 2014 season on March 10 at home against Northland. That game is set for 1 p.m., with the Falcons spring trip in Arizona slated to begin two days later in Arizona.

2015 NACC Preseason Coaches' and SIDs' Poll
1) Concordia Chicago (21), 241
2) Benedictine, 208
3) CUW, 192
4) Rockford (1), 155
5) Dominican, 134
6) Edgewood, 132
7) Marian, 107
8) Aurora, 99
9) Wisconsin Lutheran, 92
10) MSOE, 64
11) Lakeland, 28