EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team was selected fifth in the annual Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll and outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was named to the Preseason-All-MVC Team, as announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

MVC Release
 
Evansville returns 19 letterwinners and seven position starters from last year's team that won the MVC regular season championship with a 34-21 overall record and 15-6 mark in league play. The Aces garnered 28 total points in this year's poll that was voted on by the league's coaches.
 
Dallas Baptist was selected as the league favorite with seven of the eight first-place votes and 63 points overall. The Patriots topped Missouri State who received one first-place vote and 53 points for second. Wichita State (43) narrowly edged out the 2014 MVC Tournament champions, Indiana State (42) for third. Following the reigning regular season champion Purple Aces, Illinois State (26), Bradley (18) and Southern Illinois (15) rounded out the poll.
 
Kaczmarski, who was an All-MVC First Team selection each of the last two seasons, was one of three outfielders named to the Preseason All-MVC Team.  The Cary, Ill., native led UE with a .315 batting average, .502 slugging percentage, 19 doubles, 50 runs batted in, 110 total bases and eight sacrifice flies.
 
The Aces begin the season on Friday, February 13 with a three-game series at Arkansas Little-Rock.
 
UE has their first home game at Braun Stadium on Friday, February 27 when they play Oakland as part of a three-game series.
 
BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
1.    Dallas Baptist (7)              63
2.    Missouri State (1)             53
3.    Wichita State                    43
4.    Indiana State                    42
5.    Evansville                       28
6.    Illinois State                      26
7.    Bradley                             18
8.    Southern Illinois                15
 
PRESEASON ALL-MVC TEAM
2B – Paul DeJong, Illinois State
3B – Spencer Gaa, Bradley
SS – Tyler Leffler, Bradley
C – Daniel Salters, Dallas Baptist
UT – Dylan Becker, Missouri State
DH – Justin Wall, Dallas Baptist
OF – Kevin Kaczmarski, Evansville
OF – Daniel Kihle, Wichita State
OF – David Martinelli, Dallas Baptist
OF – Tate Matheny, Missouri State
SP – Jon Harris, Missouri State
SP – Sam Tewes, Wichita State
RP – Ryan Keaffaber, Indiana State
RP – Brandon Koch, Dallas Baptist