Clemson Baseball Ranks Fifth in Latest Preseason Poll

Jan. 16, 2002

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson baseball team has been ranked fifth in the final preseason poll of the 2002 season. Baseball Weekly/ESPN voted the Tigers fifth, meaning Clemson is not ranked lower than sixth in any of the three preseason polls. Earlier this year, Clemson was ranked second by Baseball America and sixth by Collegiate Baseball.

The Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top-25 Preseason College Coaches Poll was selected by 41 Division I head baseball coaches representing the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

The Tigers finished 14th in the final 2001 USA Today/Baseball Weekly coaches poll last June after making their third straight NCAA Super Regional appearance. Clemson lost at the Coral Gables Super Regional to Miami, which was the eventual national champion. The Tigers finished with a 41-22 record and were playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 15th consecutive season, the fifth longest streak in the nation.

Clemson, which opens the 2002 season Feb. 22-24 with a three-game series vs. Auburn at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, begins practice on Saturday.