Feb. 3, 2010

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Texas State claimed the top spot in the Southland Conference in both the coaches’ poll and sports information directors’ poll, as released by the league office.

The Bobcats received five first-place votes and 114 points in the coaches’ poll and six first-place votes and 112 points in the SID poll. Texas State returns 19 letterwinners, five starters and nine pitchers from a team that won the regular-season title in 2009. The Bobcats had 41 overall wins and 24 conference victories a season ago, both program records.

Sam Houston State, which has won the past three Southland Tournament titles, was second in both polls. The polls were identical through eighth place with Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana, UTSA, UT Arlington, Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin. Central Arkansas was ninth in the coaches’ poll and McNeese State was 10th, while McNeese State was ninth in the SID poll with Central Arkansas 10th. Both followed with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Nicholls State.

The season begins on Feb. 19, with conference play starting March 5. For the second straight year, the Southland Tournament will be at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas. The dates are May 26-29.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish

(2009 Southland/overall records, points, first-place votes)

Coaches’ Poll

1 Texas State (24-7, 41-17) 114 (5)

2 Sam Houston State (18-14, 36-24) 107 (4)

3 Lamar (20-13, 36-22) 105 (3)

4 Southeastern Louisiana (21-12, 37-22) 84

5 UTSA (20-12, 32-25) 77

6 UT Arlington (19-13, 30-26) 73

7 Northwestern State (18-13, 26-26) 65

8 Stephen F. Austin (14-18, 23-32) 50

9 Central Arkansas (10-21, 22-30) 39

10 McNeese State (10-22, 21-30) 34

11 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9-24, 18-38) 23

12 Nicholls State (9-23, 19-32) 17

Sports Information Directors’ Poll

1 Texas State (24-7, 41-17) 112 (6)

2 Sam Houston State (18-14, 36-24) 103 (4)

3 Lamar (30-13, 36-22) 100 (2)

4 Southeastern Louisiana (21-12, 37-22) 90

5 UTSA (20-12, 32-25) 83

6 UT Arlington (19-13, 30-26) 76

7 Northwestern State (18-13, 26-26) 62

8 Stephen F. Austin (14-18, 23-32) 46

9 McNeese State (10-22, 21-30) 41

10 Central Arkansas (10-21, 22-30) 40

11 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9-24, 18-38) 21

12 Nicholls State (9-23, 19-32) 17