Dec. 21, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - For the third-consecutive season the Fresno State baseball team has earned a pre-season ranking in Collegiate Baseball newspaper's Fabulous 40 pre-season NCAA Division I baseball poll. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 21 in the 2008 poll. The newspaper has ranked college baseball teams since 1959 but only has had pre-season rankings since 1999. In those 10 years of pre-season rankings, this marks the fifth season in which the Bulldogs have been mentioned.
Fresno State received votes in the 2007 pre-season poll, was No. 40 in 2006 and No. 36 in 2001. The `Dogs highest ranking from Collegiate Baseball came in the 2002 pre-season poll in which they were ranked No. 11.
Three of Fresno State's 2008 opponents are in the top 40 and five others are receiving votes, including WAC foes Louisiana Tech, Hawai'i and Nevada.
The Bulldogs finished the 2007 season at 38-29 and earned a trip the NCAA Tournament after winning their second-straight WAC title. At the San Diego Regional, the `Dogs fell to powerhouse Cal State Fullerton in the Regional Final.
Seven starting position players and four pitchers return to the 2008 team from last season after losing only two starting position players. The Bulldogs also bring six talented newcomers to the lineup.
The 2008 season begins on Feb. 22 for the Bulldogs as they host UC Davis at 6:05 p.m. at Beiden Field.
The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll
(As of Dec. 21, 2007)
Rank School ('07 Final Record) Points
1. Arizona (42-17) 496
2. South Carolina (46-20) 493
3. Arizona St. (49-15) 491
4. Mississippi (40-25) 487
5. North Carolina (57-16) 486
6. Rice (56-14) 483
7. San Diego (43-18) 481
8. Texas (46-17) 478
9. Wichita St. (53-22) 476
10. Michigan (42-19) 473
11. Vanderbilt (54-13) 471
12. Florida St. (49-13) 468
13. Clemson (41-23) 466
14. Miami, Fla. (37-24) 464
15. Missouri (42-18) 461
16. Cal. St. Fullerton (38-25) 459
17. Long Beach St. (39-20) 455
18. UCLA (33-28) 452
19. Oregon St. (49-18) 451
20. Kentucky (34-19-1) 447
21. Fresno St. (38-29) 446
22. Texas A&M (48-19) 443
23. Louisville (47-24) 440
24. Virginia (45-16) 437
25. Georgia Tech. (32-25) 434
26. U.C. Irvine (47-17-1) 432
27. Mississippi St. (38-22) 430
28. Baylor (35-27) 428
29. Pepperdine (35-22) 426
30. Louisiana St. (29-26-1) 423
31. Oklahoma St. (42-21) 420
32. Louisiana-Lafayette (45-17) 419
33. Southern Illinois (34-22) 415
34. Southern Miss. (39-23) 413
35. U.C. Riverside (38-21) 411
36. Stetson (42-21) 408
37. Coastal Carolina (50-13) 406
38. Nebraska (32-27) 405
39. California (29-26) 403
40. Oral Roberts (40-17) 400
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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.
Bold = Fresno State 2008 Opponents
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - For more information on the Fresno State Baseball Team, log onto www.gobulldogs.com.
