SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford baseball team was picked to finish second in the Southern Conference in the preseason coaches' poll, released by the league Thursday afternoon.
In addition to the preseason poll, the SoCon released its preseason All-SoCon teams. Samford starting pitcher
Miller Riggins, relief pitcher
Evan Steckmesser and second baseman
Jeffrey Ince were all named second team All-SoCon.
In the preseason poll, UNC Greensboro was picked as the preseason favorite with 40 points and three first-place votes. Samford was picked second with 38 points and three first-place votes. Wofford came in third in the voting with 34 points and one first-place vote. ETSU and Mercer tied for fourth with 30 points each, with ETSU getting the final first-place vote.
Western Carolina was tabbed to finish sixth with 25 points. The Catamounts were followed by The Citadel (14 points) in seventh and VMI (13 points) in eighth.
Riggins saw action in 17 games last season, starting three contests on the mound. He finished with a record of 2-1 and an ERA of 4.50 in 28.0 innings of work.
Steckmesser was one of the top relief pitchers for the Bulldogs last season. He appeared in 29 games, all in relief, posting a 2-0 record and a 5.86 ERA in 35.1 innings on the mound.
Ince is in his first season with the Bulldogs, transferring to Samford from Pearl River Community College, after spending time at both Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech. In 2024, he finished the year with a .411 batting average, hitting 12 doubles, eight homers and three triples, driving in 43 runs in the process.
Samford will open the 2025 season on Friday, Feb. 14 when the Bulldogs play host to Valparaiso. The game is set for a 4 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.
2025 SoCon Preseason Baseball Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Ty Dalley, MER
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Michael Harpster (ETSU)/Rob Ready (UNCG)
1st Team All-Conference
- Starting Pitchers: Michael Harpster (ETSU), Rob Ready (UNCG), Dusty Revis (WCU)/Colton Cosper(MER)
- Relief Pitchers: Kenny Michaels (WOF), Grant Aycock (UNCG), Jess Ackerman (MER)
- Catcher: JD Yakubinis (ETSU)
- First Base: Grayson Fitzwater (VMI)
- Second Base: Travis Elliot (CIT)
- Shortstop: Bradley Frye (MER)
- Third Base: Cody Miller (ETSU)
- Outfielders: Ty Dalley (MER), David Wiley (WOF), Andrew Mannelly (WOF)/Luke Holland (UNCG)
- Designated Hitter: Trey Truitt (UNCG)
2nd Team All-Conference
- Starting Pitchers: Hunter Shuey (UNCG), Miller Riggins (SAM), Dylan Rhadans (WOF)
- Relief Pitchers: Evan Steckmesser (SAM), Alec Bauchard (WOF), Champ Davis (WOF)/Daniel Thompson (UNCG)
- Catcher: Lucas Manning (WOF)/Jack Spyke (WCU)
- First Base: Tyler Hare (WOF)
- Second Base: Jeffrey Ince (SAM)
- Shortstop: Trent Turner (WCU)
- Third Base: Mason Holton (WCU)
- Outfielders: Owen Prince (VMI), Hayden Friese (WCU), Blake Jacklin (ETSU)/Jamie Palmese (ETSU)
- Designated Hitter: Will Smoot (ETSU)
2025 Preseason Poll
| Rank |
School (first-place votes) |
Total Score |
| 1st |
UNC Greensboro (3) |
40 points |
| 2nd |
Samford (3) |
38 points |
| 3rd |
Wofford (1) |
34 points |
| T-4th |
ETSU (1) |
30 points |
| T-4th |
Mercer |
30 points |
| 6th |
Western Carolina |
25 points |
| 7th |
The Citadel |
14 points |
| 8th |
VMI |
13 points |
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