INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP baseball program was picked to finish fifth in the division as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its 2023 preseason coaches' polls Thursday afternoon.
Seton Hill is once again the favorite to win the division, garnering three first-place votes. Mercyhurst followed in second, with Gannon picking up three first-place votes in third. Slippery Rock (one vote) follows in fourth, just ahead of IUP.
California (Pa.), Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion round out the PSAC West in the six, seven and eight spots. In the East, Millersville was picked first. West Chester and East Stroudsburg were second and third, each receiving three first-place votes.
Last season
IUP had a big improvement last season, going from 2-35 in 2021 to 27-22 in 2022 under the direction of head coach
Steve Kline, a year over year improvement of 25 wins.
Who's back for IUP
The Hawks will rely on the veteran infield duo of
Harrison Pontoli and
Markus Cestra, both named to the 2023 preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Atlantic Region Team earlier this week.
Peyton Johnson,
Torrey Roper and
Au'sean Owens all return after starting over 40 games in 2022.
On the mound, the Hawks return some of their top talent from a season ago, including starting hurlers
Jimmy Tooley,
Mark Edeburn and
Jeremiah Williams. IUP will also rely on relievers
Sean Furlong,
Patrick Apgar and
Eli Glass.
2023 Schedule
IUP begins the season with a three-game series at UNC Pembroke on February 10-12. The Hawks have road trips to North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida before opening the home slate on Tuesday, March 21 against Fairmont State.
2023 PSAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll Results
EAST (# of First-Place Votes)
1. Millersville (3)
2. West Chester (3)
3. East Stroudsburg (3)
4. Shippensburg
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shepherd
7. Mansfield
8. Lock Haven
9. Kutztown
WEST
1. Seton Hill (4)
2. Mercyhurst
3. Gannon (3)
4. Slippery Rock (1)
5. IUP
6. California (Pa.)
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Clarion
Follow
For coverage of the IUP baseball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPbaseball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
