ATLANTA  – Coming off a dominating Southern Athletic Association regular season championship, tournament title, and run into the NCAA Division III Super Regionals last season, Birmingham-Southern was the top pick in the 2023 SAA Baseball Preseason Poll.

The D3baseball.com fourth-ranked Panthers garnered all eight first place votes for the second straight season. Rhodes picked up 52 points to come in second while Hendrix is third with 44 points. The ranking was conducted among the SAA's eight head coaches.

BSC went 41-10 overall and 18-3 in SAA play last season. After falling to Sewanee in first round of the SAA Tournament, the Panthers fought through the loser's bracket and eventually swept Millsaps in the championship series for the tourney title. BSC went on to win the Lynchburg Regional with three-straight 10-2 wins before falling to Trinity in the Super Regional round. Noah Best and Ian Hancock were both named 2023 D3baseball.com Preseason All-America and will look to lead the Panthers on another title run. 

2023 BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Birmingham-Southern - 64 pts. (8)
2. Rhodes - 52 pts.
3. Hendrix - 44 pts.
4. Berry - 40 pts.
5. Millsaps - 35 pts.
6. Oglethorpe - 24 pts.
7. Centre - 20 pts.
8. Sewanee - 9 pts.
(Fist place votes)

The Panthers open up their season on Friday, Feb. 10 as they travel to San Antonio, Texas to face over against No. 3 Trinity University (Texas).

To see the complete Southern Athletic Association Preseason poll, click here.