FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University has been picked to finish fifth in the battle for the Peach Belt Conference baseball title, according to the annual preseason poll by the conference’s coaches. FMU, which did receive one first-place vote and finished only eight points out of second place, opens its 2008 schedule on Saturday (Feb. 2) at Valdosta State University.

Columbus State University, which lost in last year’s national championship game, garnered six of a possible nine first-place votes and finished first with 77 points. Georgia College & State University was second with 64 points, followed by North Georgia College & State University (59), USC Aiken (58), Francis Marion (56), Armstrong Atlantic State University (52), Augusta State University (30), UNC Pembroke (25), Lander University (20), and Georgia Southwestern State University (9). Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams in the preseason poll.

Eighth-year Francis Marion head coach Art Inabinet welcomes back 16 of 28 lettermen from last year's 36-18 squad that finished third during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, recorded the second-highest win total in the program’s history, and ended the year ranked 29th nationally.  Eight of the team’s losses were to nationally ranked opponents.

This year’s Patriot squad is ranked 25th in the preseason 2008 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 40 poll. Dating back to the 2005 season, the Patriots have appeared in 50 consecutive national polls.

Seven of 11 pitchers from last year’s staff that registered the nation’s ninth-best earned run average (3.08) return, but Inabinet must replace right-hander Dylan Owen (10-1, 1.14 ERA), the NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year for 2007, and three other hurlers who combined to start 33 of the team’s 54 contests. The returnees include senior lefty closer Zach Farry (3-2, team-record 10 saves, 2.03 ERA); senior righty Dusty Floyd (1-0, 4.66, 11-0 career mark); senior lefty Brandon White (0-3, 6.42); sophomore southpaw Cory Deering (4-1, 2.47) and sophomore righty Erik Sommerville (2-1, 1 save, 3.66).

Four position starters return from 2007: senior outfielder Justin Greene (.324, 5 HRs, 35 RBIs), senior shortstop Greg Phelps (.315, 19 RBIs), senior second baseman Ryan Hypke (.327, 1 HR, 10 RBIs), and junior catcher Jared Barkdoll (.356, 5 HRs, 41 RBIs). Junior third baseman Taylor Norfleet (.272, 1 HRs, 24 RBIs) has been lost for the 2008 year following a preseason injury.

Six freshmen and five transfers make up this year’s class of newcomers.

This year’s 52-game schedule includes 28 home games and the annual Swamp Fox Challenge, this year expanded to four days (Feb. 7-10). The 2008 PBC Baseball Tournament will be played May 8-11 in Aiken.