TranSouth Conference Baseball Preseason Poll Released, Cumberland at Top
December 6, 2004

JACKSON, Tenn. – For the second time in four seasons, the NAIA Baseball National Champion hails from the TranSouth Conference (Birmingham-Southern 2001, Cumberland 2004). And as expected, Cumberland is returning in 2005 as the preseason No. 1 team in the TranSouth Conference and also the No. 1 team in the NAIA preseason polls.

As voted on by the TranSouth coaches, Cumberland University was first with five first place votes. Cumberland finished the regular season in third place in the conference standings, but closed out the season by winning 19 straight games including the conference tournament, region tournament, super regional, and eventually, the NAIA World Series.

Trevecca Nazarene University was the second choice voted by the coaches as they came in second place in the TranSouth preseason baseball poll while earning one first place vote. Trevecca Nazarene finished second place in the TranSouth regular season standings in 2004 which earned them the two seed in the conference tournament. Trevecca Nazarene is ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Baseball Polls

Union University comes in at No. 3 in the TranSouth Baseball preseason poll. Union finished seventh in the 2004 TranSouth standings. Union received votes in the NAIA Preseason Baseball Polls.

Martin Methodist College ranks No. 4 in the preseason conference baseball poll. Last season, the RedHawks finished 5th the regular season standings and participated in the TranSouth Conference Tournament.

Lyon College comes in at No. 5 in the TranSouth preseason baseball poll. Lyon was sixth in the 2004 final conference standings and earned a trip to the conference tournament.

Freed-Hardeman University is ranked No. 6 in the TranSouth preseason baseball poll. Last season, Freed-Hardeman finished in eighth place in the conference standings.

2005 TRANSOUTH PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

1. Cumberland University (Tenn.) Bulldogs (5)
2. Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) Trojans (1)
3. Union University (Tenn.) Bulldogs
4. Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) RedHawks
5. Lyon College (Ark.) Scots
6. Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) Lions