Jan. 19, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team has been picked sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released by the league on Thursday.

In the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches, Samford received 36 points, placing the Bulldogs in sixth place. Austin Peay was picked to win the league with 77 points and Jacksonville State was picked second with 76 points.

Samford welcomes 23 new players to the 2006 squad, but the Bulldogs do return seven position starters and four pitchers from last season.

Samford opens the 2006 season on Feb. 14, when the Bulldogs play at Alabama. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

COMPLETE OVC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
1. Austin Peay (five first-place votes) 77
2. Jacksonville State (four first place votes) 76
3. Eastern Kentucky (one first-place vote) 57
4. Murray State 54
5. Southeast Missouri 53
6. Samford 36
t7. Eastern Illinois 33
t7. Morehead State 33
9. Tennessee Tech 19
10. Tennessee-Martin 12
(Teams awarded 9 points for a first-place vote, 8 for second, etc.)