Baseball tabbed 10th in preseason Collegiate Baseball Top 40
Dec. 23, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas landed in the 10th spot on the Collegiate Baseball 2009 Preseason Division I Ranking released on Monday. 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. Coach Augie Garrido's team finished with a 39-22 mark last year and ranked No. 25 in the final 2008 ranking. Louisiana State earned the top spot followed by North Carolina, Rice, Georgia and Stanford. The Longhorns were one of four Big 12 Conference teams in the top 15, joined by No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 15 Baylor. Missouri landed at No. 22 to give the Big 12 five teams in the Top 40. 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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