411OnTheForty: Texas baseball picked third in Big 12 preseason poll

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas baseball team, ranked No. 9 in the country to start the year by D1Baseball, was selected No. 3 in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, behind Texas Tech and TCU, the league office announced Thursday.

The poll is voted on by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players from their own teams.

It was a step forward for head coach David Pierce's program, which was ranked No. 5 in last year's preseason poll, and finished the abbreviated spring slate with a 14-3 record.

Some things do not change: Texas Tech held first place for the fourth straight preseason ranking. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 3 in the country by D1Baseball, earned seven first-place votes. TCU came in at No. 2. The Horned Frogs and Longhorns each received one first-place vote.

2021 Big 12 Conference baseball preseason poll

School (first-place votes) — points

1.   Texas Tech (7)     63
2.   TCU (1)                 52
3.   Texas (1)              46
4.   Oklahoma State   42
5.   Oklahoma            31
6.   West Virginia       29
7.   Kansas State        28
8.   Baylor                  25
9.   Kansas                 8