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GLIAC -- The Saginaw Valley State University Baseball team has been picked to finish in 7th place in the 2020 GLIAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, which was officially released on Thursday (Feb. 6) morning.
The Cardinals received 16 total points in the poll, sitting two behind No. 6 Purdue Northwest. Ashland was tabbed as the league's favorite with 48 points and six first-place votes. Davenport received one first-place vote and 42 points while Wayne State had the lone remaining first-place nod and 39 total points. Northwood sits fourth with 30 points and Grand Valley State fifth with 20 points. Parkside is ranked eighth in the 2020 poll, collecting seven points.
2020 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll
- Ashland - 48 pts (6)
- Davenport - 42 pts (1)
- Wayne State - 39 pts (1)
- Northwood - 30 pts
- Grand Valley State - 20 pts
- Purdue Northwest - 18 pts
- Saginaw Valley State - 16 pts
- Parkside - 7 pts
2020 Saginaw Valley State Preview
The Cardinal Baseball team looks to carry over momentum from a 2019 campaign that saw the program play in the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2014 and advance to the tournament's title game for the first time since the 2003 campaign. Head Coach Steve Jaksa returns for his second season at the helm and looks for the Cardinals to improve on last season's 21-29-1 overall record as well.
Despite the loss of four All-GLIAC honorees from last year's squad, Saginaw Valley welcomes back its leading home run hitter and run producer in senior outfielder Joshua Riggs, who led the team with seven home runs and 42 RBI to go along with 11 doubles and 25 walks. Fellow senior Collin Winters returns to help anchor the outfield as well. Brandon Wise, Amani Godfrey and Kyle Henigan all return as starters from last year for SVSU. All three led the team in 2019 with four victories, with Godfrey posting 63 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.37 in his 68.0 innings pitched.
Saginaw Valley gets its 2020 season underway with trips to play at Anderson (S.C.), West Virginia State, Trevecca Nazarene and to Florida for the RUSSMATT Invitational. The Cardinals begin GLIAC play with a weekend at Ashland University, which is slated to begin on Friday, March 20.
2020 SVSU Baseball Preview Interview - Steve Jaksa & Joshua Riggs