2015 Big West Preseason Poll

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Irvine, Calif. — It looks as if the Cal State Fullerton Titans are primed to reclaim the Big West Conference title in 2015 after losing the crown to Cal Poly last year, according to the nine conference coaches that voted on the 2015 Big West baseball preseason poll. The Titans earned five first-place votes en route to a total of 74 points with defending champion Cal Poly one point back in second place after securing three first-place votes and a 73 point-total. Picking up the final first-place vote and grabbing the third spot in the poll were the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara with a total of 62 points.

The Big West coaches aren’t the only ones who think the Titans are the top contenders for the 2015 conference title as the team received top-25 rankings in a multitude of 2015 preseason polls, the highest ranking of 17th coming from Collegiate Baseball. Cal State Fullerton is coming off its 40th consecutive winning season and 30-win season in the program’s NCAA Division I history and despite finishing fourth in the league last year with a 14-10 mark, the Titans advanced to its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2014.

Headlining the pitching staff are 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-Americans Thomas Eshelman and Justin Garza. Eshelman has led the nation in walks allowed-per-nine innings in his first two seasons with Cal State Fullerton, including setting a national record with a 0.23 mark as a freshman. Garza recorded the fourth no-hitter in Cal State Fullerton history last year, holding CSUN without a hit on May 23, 2014. He walked three and struck out 12, matching his career high. After two seasons, Garza currently ranks sixth in the Titans career record book in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (1.49) and is tied for eighth with a 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 2.49 career ERA also currently ranks eighth while his .224 op- ponent’s batting average ranks 10th in the record book.

Joining the dazzling duo and the rest of the Titan returners is a recruiting class that was ranked No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball, which features five players that were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft along with 2014 signees and summer baseball standouts Chad Bible and Scott Hurst.

Second place Cal Poly is coming off one of the most historic seasons in program history, capturing its first Big West Conference baseball championship with a 19-5 record while also qualify for a regional for the second straight year and the third time in the last six seasons. The Mustangs also shattered the school record in overall wins with 47. Prior to last season, the 1977 and 1992 squads held the mark with 41 victories. The Mustangs enter 2015 with 19 returning letterwinners, including six position starters, three starting pitchers and two All-Americans.

Earning a 13th ranking in Collegiate Baseball’s Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I Preseason Poll, the Mustangs welcome back All-Americans Mark Mathias at second base and right-hander Casey Bloomquist on the mound. All-Big West First Team reliever Taylor Chris also returns for his senior campaign. Bloomquist was a second-team all-conference choice after winning 12 games and compiling a 1.61 ERA.

Guided by Head Coach Andrew Checketts, who took over the helm of the Gauchos in 2012, the third-pick Gauchos are definitely a team on the rise after earning its first top-ranking last season and they continue with national recognition this season as they open 2015 ranked in the Top 25 in both Collegiate Baseball (No. 16) and Perfect Game (No. 18) preseason polls. The UC Santa Barbara roster showcases some familiar faces with All-Big West Second Teamer and 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American closer Dillon Tate, who will be joined by pitcher Justin Jacome. As a sophomore in 2014, Tate went 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 12 saves in 43.1 innings of work over 28 appearances.

Two-way player Robby Nesovic, centerfielder Andrew Calica and the pitching duo of Tate and Jacome will be joined by a nationally-recognized crop of newcomers.

Grabbing the fourth spot on the preseason poll with 56 points is UC Irvine, who made an impressive run to the 2014 College World Series after finishing third in the Big West with a 15-9 record, the highest finish since securing second place in 2011 with a 16-8 mark. The Anteaters’ 41 victories is also the highest win total since 2011 (43-18).

The Anteaters return 20 letterwinners from the 2014 team and are led by senior catcher Jerry McClanahan, who hit .304 with 63 hits and 36 RBI and Jonathan Munoz, who was voted an ABCA All-West Region second-team honoree after batting .281 with 47 hits and 18 runs batted in.

Elliot Surrey, Evan Manarino and Moore are expected to anchor the Anteater pitching staff. Surrey was 8-5 with a 2.32 ERA and struck out 76 batters in 112.2 innings of work. Manarino went 4-4 with a 2.66 earned run average a year ago.

Receiving 48 points, Long Beach State clinched the fifth spot and CSUN secured a 25 point-total to place sixth. UC Riverside and Hawai’i found themselves knotted in the seventh slot with 24 points while UC Davis rounded out the nine-team field with a total of 19 points.
2015 Coaches Poll Results
1. Cal State Fullerton (5) 74
2. Cal Poly (3) 73
3. UC Santa Barbara (1) 62
4. UC Irvine 56
5. Long Beach State 48
6. CSUN 25
T7. UC Riverside 24
T7. Hawai’i 24
9. UC Davis 19