The Wright State baseball team was picked first as the Horizon League released its preseason poll Wednesday afternoon.  Head coaches at the six schools conducted the voting.

The Raiders received 36 points and six first-place votes while UIC was picked second with 29 points.  Milwaukee was chosen third, followed by Northern Kentucky, Oakland and Youngstown State.

The Raiders, 38-21 in 2017 under first-year head coach Jeff Mercer, received ranking in the top 25 last year for the first time in program history.  With a 21-9 Horizon League record, the Raiders return four of its five all-league honorees from a year ago, including Ryan Weiss who has named the circuit's Freshman of the Year and first team as he finished 8-1 with a 2.13 ERA.  First-team member Matt Morrow also returns as he hit .333 in 59 games with 51 runs and 38 RBI.  Seth Gray from Springfield, OH is back after being named to the second and all-freshman team in 2016 when he hit .300 in 59 games.  Right-handed reliever Derek Hendrixson was chosen to the second team last Spring after posting nine saves and an ERA of 1.77.

Wright State opens the regular season next weekend with a three-game series at Tulane.  The Raiders and the Green Wave will play a single game on Friday (7:30), Saturday (3:00) and Sunday (2:00).  The home opener for WSU is set for Saturday, March 10, against Hartford at Nischwitz Stadium at 1:00.

The following is the 2018 Horizon League preseason poll: