Dec. 30, 2005

(San Francisco) - Fresh off the most successful season in program history in 2005, USF Baseball earned national recognition and enters the upcoming season ranked No. 35 in the 2006 Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll. The Dons set program records for wins (38), West Coast Conference victories (20) and ranked in the top-10 nationally in team ERA (2.86) and team fielding percentage (.976).

It is the second time in the last 10 seasons USF has appeared in the preseason poll and first since 1998.

San Francisco plays no fewer than five teams ranked in the preseason top-40, headlined by a March 29 contest against 2005 College World Series participant Oregon State. The Dons host the No. 3 Beavers at Benedetti Diamond. USF plays a three-game WCC set at No. 13 Pepperdine beginning April 7 and play a non-conference tilt against perennial national power No. 25 Stanford April 11 at Sunken Diamond.

USF also hosts No. 36 San Diego in a league series at Benedetti Diamond beginning April 28. The Dons also travel to Fresno for three games at No. 40 Fresno State. Last season USF defeated the Bulldogs twice en route to the 2005 Johnny Quik Classic title.

San Francisco opens the 2006 campaign and its quest for the first NCAA Regional appearance in program history Friday, February 3, 2006 when it hosts UC Riverside in a three-game set at Benedetti Diamond.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll
1. Texas (56-16)
2. Florida (48-23)
3. Oregon St. (46-12)
4. Nebraska (57-15)
5. Rice (45-19)
6. Clemson (43-23)
7. North Carolina (41-19-1)
8. Florida St. (53-20)
9. Cal. St. Fullerton (46-18)
10. Georgia Tech. (45-19)
11. Miami, Fla. (41-19-1)
12. Arizona St. (42-25)
13. Pepperdine (41-23)
14. Missouri (40-23)
15. Louisiana St. (40-22)
16. Long Beach St. (37-22)
17. South Carolina (41-23)
18. Florida Atlantic (37-24)
19. Tennessee (46-21)
20. Mississippi (48-20)
21. Southern California (41-22)
22. Notre Dame (38-24-1)
23. Baylor (46-24)
24. Tulane (56-12)
25. Stanford (34-25)
26. Wichita St. (51-24)
27. Texas Christian (41-20)
28. Winthrop (44-22)
29. Oklahoma (35-26)
30. Southern Miss. (41-21)
31. Arizona (39-21)
32. Houston (29-30)
33. Arkansas (39-22)
34. Mississippi St. (42-22)
35. San Francisco (38-18)
36. San Diego (30-27-1)
37. Stetson (35-28)
38. Washington (33-22)
39. Georgia (30-25)
40. Fresno St. (30-29)
Other WCC Team Receiving Votes: Loyola Marymount