GLIAC - Ashland remains the lone Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) baseball program ranked in the 2020 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) First National Poll, which was announced Wednesday.
The Eagles bring back a large portion of that team, including eight of nine starting position players and several other key contributors. All-GLIAC first team standouts coming back include junior shortstop Austin Eifrid, senior designated hitter/first baseman Carson Mittermaier and senior outfielder Michael Rogers.
The Eagles lost a pair of All-GLIAC first team pitchers in starter Devin Peters and All-American closer Chris Slavik, but have senior right-hander Chance Hitchcock ready to step into the ace role. He had a 2.89 ERA across 99 2/3 innings last season and earned the victory in Ashland's World Series win over NYIT. Also returning to help anchor the bullpen is senior left-hander Josh Smith, who was 2-1 with two saves and a 3.60 ERA last season.
2020 National Poll (Week 1)
February 19, 2020
|
Rank |
School -First Place Votes- |
W-L (2020) |
Pts. |
Prev. |
|
1 |
Angelo State (13) |
10-0 |
468 |
11 |
|
2 |
Southern Arkansas (2) |
11-0 |
427 |
NR |
|
3 |
North Greenville (1) |
8-1-1 |
423 |
8 |
|
4 |
UC San Diego (2) |
7-2 |
410 |
3 |
|
5 |
Florida Southern (1) |
8-2 |
405 |
RV |
|
6 |
Colorado Mesa |
5-1 |
375 |
2 |
|
7 |
Tampa |
6-3 |
326 |
1 |
|
8 |
Central Missouri |
8-3 |
311 |
4 |
|
9 |
Mercyhurst |
0-0 |
309 |
6 |
|
10 |
Ashland |
0-0 |
308 |
7 |
|
11 |
Mount Olive |
9-1 |
290 |
RV |
|
12 |
New York Tech |
0-0 |
276 |
10 |
|
13 |
Newberry |
10-1 |
230 |
RV |
|
14 |
Biola |
9-1 |
206 |
NR |
|
15 |
Barry |
8-0 |
194 |
NR |
|
16 |
Dixie State |
9-2 |
191 |
NR |
|
17 |
Missouri Southern |
9-1 |
166 |
NR |
|
18 |
Millersville |
5-2 |
148 |
18 |
|
19 |
Stanislaus State |
9-1 |
130 |
NR |
|
20 |
Bellarmine |
3-3 |
108 |
17 |
|
21 |
Georgia College |
8-1 |
103 |
NR |
|
22 |
Texas A&M Kingsville |
9-1 |
92 |
NR |
|
23 |
Southern New Hampshire |
0-3 |
73 |
14 |
|
24 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
8-2 |
40 |
NR |
|
25 |
Mississippi College |
6-3 |
37 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Catawba (7-2) 30 points; West Texas A&M (8-2) 30 points; Chico State (7-3) 21 points;
Lindenwood (5-1) 21 points; Wilmington, Del. (0-0) 8 points; Bloomsburg (0-0) 9 points; Flagler (9-1) 5 points;
Embry-Riddle, Fla. (7-2) 2 points; Colorado School of Mines (6-3) 1 point; Quincy (2-1) 1 point;
Seton Hill (3-0) 1 point.
Dropped Out: Catawba (5th); Delta State (9th); Azusa Pacific (12th); Augustana, S.D. (13th); West Texas A&M (15th); Nova Southeastern (16th); West Florida (19th); North Georgia (20th); Arkansas Monticello (21st);
Cal State Monterey Bay (22nd); Colorado School of Mines (23rd); Wilmington, Del. (24th); Minnesota State
