FROM STAFF REPORTS

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo baseball team was picked to finish eighth in the Peach Belt Conference following a preseason poll of head coaches, which was released Jan. 29.

The Falcons finished with 63 votes in the poll. Francis Marion University led the way with 137 votes, including seven first-place votes.

The Patriots were followed by USC Aiken, Columbus State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Lander University, Georgia College, and UNC Pembroke. Montevallo was picked to finish ahead of Flagler College, the University of North Georgia, Young Harris College, Augusta State University and Georgia Southwestern State University in the poll.

The Falcons received three sixth-place votes, two seventh-place votes, three eighth-place votes and three-ninth place votes in the poll. Montevallo also received one tenth-place vote.

The Falcons finished second in the Peach Belt Conference West Division a year ago with a 16-14 mark in Peach Belt Conference play in head coach Chandler Rose’s second season at the helm. Montevallo, which finished 25-28 overall last season, enters the 2013 season looking for its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance since back-to-back appearances in 2006 and 2007, which also included a stint in the NCAA Division II World Series in 2006.

The Falcons open the 2013 season with a three-game series Feb. 1-3 on the road at Saint Leo University. The first pitch in the season opener Friday, Feb. 1 is set for 5 p.m. CST.