USC third, Clemson 16th in Baseball America preseason poll
Ray Tanner and first baseman Christian Walker are in the top five
The two-time defending national champion USC baseball team is ranked third in Baseball America’s preseason poll released Tuesday. Florida, the team the Gamecocks beat in the title game of last year’s College World Series is the top ranked team. Stanford is second. Arkansas and Arizona round out the top five teams.
Clemson is 16th in the poll. The Tigers are one of five ACC teams in the top 25. The SEC has seven teams in the top 25, including six in the top 11.
Here is the Baseball America preseason poll, including the team’s record from 2011 and its final rank from last season:
1. Florida 53-19 2
2. Stanford 35-22 13
3. South Carolina 55-14 1
4. Arkansas 40-22 24
5. Arizona 39-21 NR
6. Rice 42-21 15
7. Texas A&M 47-22 7
8. LSU 36-20 NR
9. North Carolina 51-16 5
10. Vanderbilt 54-12 4
11. Georgia 33-22 NR
12. Georgia Tech 42-21 20
13. Texas 49-19 6
14. UCLA 35-24 22
15. TCU 43-19 19
16. Clemson 43-20 21
17. Arizona State 43-18 9
18. Miami 38-23 17
19. Oklahoma 41-19 NR
20. Florida State 46-19 8
21. UCF 39-23 NR
22. Mississippi 30-25 NR
23. Oregon State 41-19 10
24. Louisville 32-29 NR
25. Cal St. Fullerton 41-17
