BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The baseball season may be going into hibernation but that doesn't mean it's too early to look ahead to the 2017 season. Earlier this week the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll came out and Bellevue University was ranked third. Additionally, the NAIA recently released their Preseason All-American team and senior right-handed pitcher Ben McKendall was recognized as a selection.
The Bruins are coming off a successful 2016 campaign where they placed third in the Avista-NAIA World Series, their best finish since a runner-up finish in the 1997 event. They posted a 54-12 overall mark last season and reached the NAIA World Series for the first time since 2008.
The 54 wins were the most by the program since winning 54 games during the 2005 season. Their .818 winning percentage was the best since posting an .845 mark (60-11) during the 1999 season and the second-best in program history.
Defending National Champion Lewis-Clark State grabbed the top spot in the poll garnering all 17 first place votes and 467 points. Faulkner was second in the poll with 450 points while Bellevue (434), Tennessee Wesleyan (424), and Georgia Gwinnett (407) rounded out the top five.
NAIA Preseason All-American Release
McKendall was named to the NAIA Preseason All-American Team by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association All-American Committee. He was one of just four starting pitchers recognized on the time after a terrific junior season last year.
McKendall ranked fifth nationally with 12 wins a season ago, against just two losses. He also ranked fifth with 116.1 innings pitch and was eighth nationally with 122 strikeouts. His ERA of 2.17 was good for 33rd while his opponent's batting average of .220 was good for 46th nationally. He led Bellevue with six complete games and three shutouts.
The Bruins open the 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 10 with a pair of games in Chickasha, Okla. The Bruins play host No. 7 University Science & Arts of Oklahoma – an Avista-NAIA World Series qualifier a season ago – at 1:30 p.m. and take on University of Saint Mary at 4 p.m.
