State sports briefs

BASEBALL

ASU picked third, UALR 10th in Sun Belt

Arkansas State was picked third and UALR 10th in a preseason poll of Sun Belt coaches released Wednesday.

ASU, which finished 32-17 and 18-12 in the Sun Belt last year, earned 87 points to take a spot behind preseason favorite Louisiana-Lafayette, which earned eight first-place votes and 114 points, and Texas State, which earned one first-place vote and 94 points.

UALR, which was 25-29 overall and 11-19 in conference last year, earned 31 points, ahead of only newcomer Appalachian State. Texas-Arlington was picked fourth, followed by Troy, Georgia Southern, South Alabama, Georgia State and Louisiana-Monroe.

Arkansas State right-handed pitcher David Owen and first baseman Matt Burgess were picked to the preseason All-Sun Belt team. Owen was 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings last year. Burgess hit.313 with 4 home runs and 58 RBI.

ASU opens this season Feb. 13 against Illinois State. UALR opens Feb. 13 against Evansville.

UCA picked in middle of Southland

The University of Central Arkansas was picked sixth in a poll of sports information directors and seventh in a poll of league coaches the Southland Conference announced Wednesday.

UCA, which was 32-22 overall and 17-13 in the Southland last year and lost in the conference tournament championship game to Southeastern Louisiana, is picked behind preseason favorite Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Nicholls State and McNeese State in the coaches poll. Sam Houston State is the preseason favorite in both polls.

UCA opens Feb. 13 against Grambling State in Monroe, La.

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