UCI picked second in Big West

UC Irvine has been picked to finish second in the Big West Conference, according to the preseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters, the defending champions, picked up a pair of first-place votes and is slotted into the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive year.

The Anteaters were 22-2 last season in the conference, posting the second-best winning percentage in Big West history at .917 and was the first team to go undefeated at home at 12-0.

UCI finished 45-15 and hosted its first-ever NCAA regional at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.

Cal State Fullerton was tabbed to finish first in the standings after earning seven first-place votes and 79 points. Cal Poly was picked to finish third with 60 points while Long Beach State was voted to come in fourth with 50 points. UC Riverside grabbed the fifth spot with 48 points and is followed by UC Santa Barbara and Pacific, who collected 36 and 36 points, respectively. Cal State Northridge was selected eighth with 19 points with UC Davis rounding out the poll with 12 points.

— From staff reports