RUSTON, La. - With the start of a new collegiate baseball season just 30 days away, the Louisiana Tech baseball team received more preseason recognition, entering the Perfect Game College Baseball Top 40 Preseason Poll at No. 39.

The Bulldogs were one of two Conference USA programs ranked in the preseason top 40 (Southern Miss, 33). Tech is coming off a 2018 season that saw a program record 21 conference victories, including three wins over nationally-ranked competition. 

The Bulldogs open the 2019 regular season on the road against Southeastern Louisiana on Friday, February 15 at 7 p.m. Tech's home-opener is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 19 in a midweek tilt vs. UL-Lafayette. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. from the Love Shack. 

From Perfect Game:

"With an incredible number of returning players Louisiana Tech will have lofty expectations heading into the season for a team that finished second in the C-USA standings. All but one player (shortstop Dalton Skelton) from the everyday lineup is back for a team that hit .282 with 50 home runs and 73 stolen bases. That includes leading hitter and first baseman Hunter Wells (.357), center fielder Parker Bates, who led the team in RBI (40), and left fielder Mason Mallard, who led the team in stolen bases (25). The number of returning players to the pitching staff is just as impressive with all four starters back: David Leal, Matt Miller, Logan Bailey and Logan Robbins. Each of those pitchers made at least 13 starts with the ability to miss bats and limit free passes. The bullpen also has a fair amount of returning players, including swing man Tyler Follis, left-handed ace Kyle Griffen and right-hander Braxton Smith. The team assembled a challenging early season schedule with weekend series at Southeastern Louisiana and Arkansas in addition to a two-game mid-week series against Sam Houston before their conference slate begins at home against Southern Miss."