Baseball America tabs Horns fourth in preseason ranking
Jan. 20, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas landed in the fourth spot on the Baseball America 2009 preseason rankings released on Tuesday. The Longhorns return four of their top five hitters from 2008, including Russell Moldenhauer (.355), Michael Torres (.354), Brandon Belt (.319) and Cameron Rupp (.319). Texas also returns starting pitchers Chance Ruffin and Austin Wood. Ruffin was the Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Year last season with an 8-3 mark and 1.96 ERA. He was also named a third-team All-American by Baseball America. Wood went 7-3 last season with a 4.43 ERA. Texas A&M earned the top spot followed by Louisiana State, North Carolina and Texas. Cal State Fullerton was ranked fifth, followed by Mississippi, Rice, Baylor and UC Irvine. Missouri was ranked 10th to give the Big 12 four teams in the Top 10. Oklahoma landed in the 16 spot and the Big 12 boasts five in the top 25. The Longhorns registered a 39-22 mark last year and finished No. 21 in the final 2008 ranking. Texas commences the 2009 season with a weekend series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field from Feb. 20-22 when the Horns battle Illinois-Chicago.
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