Pitt Panthers Baseball Ranked No. 30 In Preseason Poll

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Even though we are in the month of December, Pitt's baseball team has been ranked No. 30 by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in their preseason poll.

Last year, Pitt won 38 games and reached No. 20 in the rankings. They are returning many starters this year and hope to move up in the rankings.

Future Big East competitor TCU is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll after a deep run in the College World Series and finished with a 54-14 record.

Read the full press release from the Pitt Panthers below:

PITTSBURGH – Pitt's baseball team has earned a ranking of No. 30 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in their preseason poll, released Monday.

"Obviously we are pleased that Collegiate Baseball has acknowledged the development of our program," head coach Joe Jordano said. "Although it is great to be recognized, the challenges ahead of us are great and we look forward to meeting those challenges with tremendous energy and enthusiasm."

The Panthers earned national attention last year, receiving their first ranking of the 2010 season in late March and climbed as high as No. 20. Pitt returns numerous starters from last year's squad that won 38 games (38-18) and finished third in the Big East.
Pitt's 18 league wins in 2010 marked the most in school history, and their .363 batting average was good enough for second in the nation in 2010.

Returning pitchers Corey Baker and Matt Iannazzo each reached the 10-win mark in 2010, which made Pitt the lone team in the nation to boast two 10-win pitchers, prior to the postseason.

The Panthers join three other Big East schools in the Collegiate Baseball rankings, including No. 16 Connecticut, No. 20 Louisville and No. 26 St. John's. Topping the rankings is future Big East competitor TCU, who finished last season with a 54-14 record and a deep run in the College World Series.

Pitt opens the season on Feb. 18 in the Big East vs. Big Ten Challenge against Illinois.

For more information on all Panthers athletics visit their official site at http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/