RICHARDSON - The Tarleton baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll released Wednesday afternoon.

The Texans, who finished last season 26-29 overall and 8-12 in the LSC South Division, received 167 total points to finish in the middle of the poll.  Abilene Christian received 17 of the 28 first place votes on the ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.  ACU totaled 324 points to gain the top spot.

Angelo State received nine first place votes for a total of 309 points and finished second in the ballloting while Central Oklahoma received one first place vote for a total of 286 points and in the third spot.  Texas A&M - Kingsville (224) and Southeastern Oklahoma (215) round out the top five.  Eastern New Mexico was picked to finish in the 10th spot but did receive the final first place vote.

UCO's Breck Draper was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year while ACU's Trey Watten was picked as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The Texans return three of their four top hitters from last season, including outfielders Charles Desmarias and Keith Peacock and second baseman Justin Davis.

Tarleton will open the 2008 season in Laredo, Feb. 1-2, against Texas A&M-International. Friday's game will start at 7 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader begining at 1 p.m.  The Texans' first home game will be on Tuesday, Feb. 5 when they will host Incarnate Word at 3 p.m.