BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Baseball Team, which returns nearly its entire starting lineup and most of its pitching staff, has been picked to finish 13^th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll which was announced today. Augustana was the top pick in the 2021 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll.

The Vikings amassed 195 points after receiving 13 first place votes (coaches can't vote for their own team). Minnesota State was second with 181 points and two first place votes. St. Cloud State was picked third with 160 points, while Minot State was fourth with 153 points. USF was 13^th and received 41 ballot points. The preseason coaches' poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 14 to 1 with the top team receiving 14 points, second 13, third 12, etc. 

Poll - Augustana (13), 1st, 195; Minnesota State (2), 2nd, 181; St. Cloud State, 3rd, 160; Minot State, fourth, 153; Wayne State, fifth, 151; Winona State, sixth, 130; Minnesota Crookston, seventh, 114; Concordia, St. Paul, eighth, 103; Northern State, ninth, 78; Minnesota-Duluth, 10th, 77; Mary, 11th, 68; SMSU, 12th, 59; Sioux Falls, 13th, 41; Upper Iowa, 14th, 36; and Bemidji State, 15th, 28.

The 2021 NSIC Baseball Tournament will take the top eight teams in the final NSIC Standings. The eight-team double elimination tournament takes place May 12-15 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, co-hosted by Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls. 

After a season cut short by the CoVID-19 pandemic, USF returns nine of its top 10 batters and seven of its top eight pitchers. As Head Coach Grant Hieb looks forward to 2021, he does so with a team full of talent. While USF is picked to finished 13th, they will look to build on a 5-8 season which included a win over No. 7 Ashland, in the season finale from 2020.

"This is the most talented group I've had in my short time as the Head Coach at the University of Sioux Falls," said Hieb. I ha"ve an experienced group and am returning almost my entire starting lineup from last season. We ended the shortened 2020 season with a big win against a top 10 opponent and I'm hoping that's a sign of good things to come for this year," he said.

USF, which opens the season against Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., on March 12-14 (four-game series), will be led by junior shortstop Grant Lung, named by the NSIC as a Player to Watch, who has a .258 career average, 18 stolen bases, 53 RBI and 27 multi-hit games. Sophomore outfielder Connor King hit .390 in the shortened season a year ago with 10 RBI and six steals. Senior Ryan Bernardy hit .325 a year ago and has 11 home runs, 15 multi-hit games and 43 career RBI. Also back is Jacob Binsfield (.313 avg., seven RBI) Brennan Albert (.298, 12 RBI) and Zane Butts (.239, 11 RBI). 

NSIC Pitcher to Watch Alex Krout (2-0, 4 A, 18.1 I, 11 Ks) runs as part of a veteran staff. Jack Blogg (0.00 ERA, 4A, 8.2 I), Payton Livingston (2.45 ERA, 1-0, 7.1 I), Matt Graham (1-1, 5A, 17I, 16Ks – 4-7 career, 52Ks) and several others are back to form a solid staff. With several newcomers adding to the mix, USF is poised to make some noise this spring.

The Cougars are scheduled to open the NSIC season at home (Birdcage) on March 20 with a doubleheader at 1:30/3:30 pm against Minot State. They will also played Sunday at noon against Minot State.