UCI picked for 3rd

UC Irvine baseball, coming off the school’s first trip to an NCAA

Division I regional last spring, has been picked third in the Big

West Conference preseason coaches poll.

The Anteaters, under first-year coach Dave Serrano, are behind

defending national champion Cal State Fullerton, which received all

eight first-place votes, and Long Beach State.

UC Irvine was 34-23-1 last season, 10-11 in the Big West. The

Anteaters are ranked No. 36 and No. 40 in the preseason by Collegiate

Baseball and Baseball America, respectively, and return 25 lettermen.

The team is led by 2005 Collegiate Baseball and National

Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-American Blair

Erickson, two-time All-Big West selection Matt Anderson and NCAA

regional all-tournament catcher Mark Wagner.

The Anteaters open the season Feb. 4-6 at California and entertain

Washington, ranked No. 17 by Collegiate Baseball, Feb. 11-13 in their

first home series.