Louisville Baseball Squad 22nd

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Just 57 days away from opening day of the 2013 college baseball season, the first preseason poll was released on Thursday with the Louisville baseball team earning the No. 22 position in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper Fabulous 40.

The Cardinals are ranked among the top 25 in a preseason poll for the sixth consecutive season under the guidance of head coach Dan McDonnell, who is entering his seventh season in Louisville. Arkansas is ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll, while future UofL conference foe North Carolina leads seven ACC squads ranked among the top 40 at No. 2 overall.

Louisville, which won its third BIG EAST regular season title in the last four seasons in 2012, is led in 2013 by the return of seven of its school record 10 All-BIG EAST performers from last season, including second team outfielders Adam Engel and Cole Sturgeon. Most of the Cardinals' pitching staff returns for 2013, led by BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American right-hander Jared Ruxer.

Overall, Louisville returns 21 letterwinners from the 2012 team, which finished 41-22 and advanced to an NCAA Regional for the fifth time in six seasons. In his six previous seasons leading the Cardinals, McDonnell is 258-122 with three BIG EAST regular-season titles, two BIG EAST Tournament titles, two NCAA Super Regional appearances and one College World Series berth.

Effingham High School graduate Chad Green is a sophomore for the Cardinals and is a pitcher.

Louisville will open the 2013 season on Friday, Feb. 15 against Indiana (7:30 p.m., ET) in Dunedin, Fla., at the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge. The Cardinals' 36-game home slate at the newly expanded Jim Patterson Stadium is set to open on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m., ET against Eastern Kentucky.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll (As of Dec. 20, 2012)   

Rank School ('12 Final Record)        Points

1. Arkansas (46-22)                             496

2. North Carolina (46-16)                     495

3. Vanderbilt (35-28)                            494

4. Louisiana St. (47-18)                        487

5. UCLA (48-16)                                   484

6. Oregon (46-19)                                482

7. South Carolina (49-20)                     481

8. Kentucky (45-18)                             478

9. Stanford (41-18)                              476

10. Oregon St. (40-20)                         473

11. N.C. State (43-20)                          470

12. San Diego (40-17)                          467

13. Mississippi St. (40-24)                     464

14. Oklahoma (42-25)                          462

15. Texas Christian (40-22)                   460

16. Arizona St. (36-20)                         458

17. Georgia Tech. (38-26)                    456

18. Arizona (48-17)                              454

19. Florida St. (50-17)                          452

20. Rice (41-19)                                   450

21. Texas (30-22)                                448

22. Louisville (41-22)                            446

23. Cal. St. Fullerton (36-21)                445

24. Florida (47-20)                               443

25. Mississippi (37-26)                          437

26. Texas A&M (43-18)                        434

27. Clemson (35-28)                            429

28. Miami, Fla. (36-23)                         427

29. Georgia (31-26)                             423

30. U.C. Irvine (31-25)                         420

31. Missouri St. (40-22)                       418

32. Wichita St. (35-25)                         415

33. New Mexico (37-24)                       413

34. Kent St. (47-20)                             411

35. Virginia (39-19-1)                           408

36. Southern Mississippi (32-24)           405

37. East Carolina (36-24-1)                  403

38. Coastal Carolina (42-19)                 400

39. Dallas Baptist (41-19)                      397

40. Pepperdine (36-23)                         395

OTHER TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES: Central Florida, Baylor, Oklahoma St., Long Beach St., Cal Poly, U.C. Santa Barbara, Tulane, St. John's, South Florida, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Florida Atlantic, College of Charleston, Fresno St., Indiana St., Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Southern Illinois, Nevada, San Diego St., Nevada-Las Vegas, South Alabama, Florida International, Gonzaga, Texas St., New Mexico St., Western Carolina, Appalachian St., Georgia Southern, Sam Houston St., Southeastern Louisiana, Southern California, Washington, California, Washington St., Oral Roberts, Austin Peay St., Stony Brook, S.C. Upstate, Kennesaw St., Mercer, Florida Gulf Coast, St. Louis, Rhode Island, Virginia Commonwealth, Liberty, Campbell, High Point, Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan St., Ohio St., Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, N.C. Wilmington, Hofstra, James Madison, Valparaiso, Manhattan, Canisius, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Bethune-Cookman, Southern, Bryant, Monmouth, Belmont.