Baseball Tied for First in Landmark Conference Preseason Poll
MADISON, N.J. – The Moravian College baseball team is tied for top honors with The Catholic University of America in the 2012 Landmark Preseason Baseball Poll. The seven head baseball coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsor the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.
MADISON, N.J. – The Moravian College baseball team is tied for top honors with The Catholic University of America in the 2012 Landmark Preseason Baseball Poll. The seven head baseball coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsor the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.
The Greyhounds and the Cardinals earned 58 points in the voting and were the only two teams to earn first-place votes. Moravian has finished atop the regular season standings the past two seasons, including a program-record 31 victories last season while going 17-1 in conference.
Senior All-American Brendan Close returns to anchor the pitching staff after going 10-0 with a 1.00 ERA last spring. He also struck out 100 batters while walking just five in 80.2 innings pitched. Senior closer Kyle Longernecker will head the bullpen after recording nine saves in 16 appearances. He finished with a 3.00 ERA to go with his 24 strikeouts in 27 innings.
Seniors catcher Austin Rock and first baseman Kevin O'Keefe lead the Greyhounds offense. Rock had a .347 (26-for-75) batting average to go with his 18 runs scored, 16 RBIs, nine walks, five doubles, one homerun and one triple. O'Keefe hit .341 (47-for-138) last spring to go with his 38 runs scored and 23 RBIs. He also had 15 stolen bases, 13 walks, 12 doubles and two triples.
The Greyhounds open its 2012 season this weekend when they travel to Hampden-Sydney College for the 5th Annual Floyd B. Wilcox Tournament.
Moravian starts its Landmark Conference schedule on Saturday, March 17th when they play host to The Catholic University of America.
| Place | Team | Points |
| T-1. | The Catholic University of America | 58 |
| T-1. | Moravian College | 58 |
| 3. | The University of Scranton | 41 |
| 4. | Susquehanna University | 35 |
| 5. | USMMA | 24 |
| 6. | Juniata College | 23 |
| 7. | Drew University | 13 |
