NKU baseball team picked fourth in Horizon League preseason poll; Norse finished 25-33 a year ago

NKyTribune staff

The Northern Kentucky University baseball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll, which was voted upon by the league’s head coaches.

Wright State earned the top spot in the poll with 36 points and all six first-place votes. Defending Horizon League champion Illinois-Chicago is picked second with 29 points. Milwaukee finished in third place with 20 points, one point ahead of NKU (19 points).

Oakland and Youngstown State rounded out the poll with 14 and 8 points, respectively. Six teams compete in baseball in the Horizon League.

NKU, which finished with a 25-33 overall record in 2017, placed third in the Horizon League with a 17-13 mark. The Norse recorded the program’s first Division I postseason win with an 11-5 victory over Milwaukee in the Horizon League Tournament.

NKU returns first-team All-Horizon League performers Jake Richmond and Chad Roberts this season. Richmond slugged nine home runs and hit .296 a year ago. He also collected 68 hits, scored 53 runs and added 12 doubles.

Roberts scored 33 runs and batted .259 a year ago. He also hit six home runs, 15 doubles and drove in 36 runs.

NKU begins the season at East Tennessee State on Feb. 16. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

2018 Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Wright State – 36 (6)
2. Illinois-Chicago – 29
3. Milwaukee – 20
4. Northern Kentucky – 19
5. Oakland – 14
6. Youngstown State – 8