LOWELL, MA (Feb. 12, 2008) – The UMass Lowell baseball team, fresh off a 33-20 overall record last season, was selected to finish third in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Tuesday.

Franklin Pierce (49-11, 26-4 in the NE-10), the defending regular season and tournament champion, was selected to repeat while Bryant (35-24, 21-9), which took third last year, was voted to place second.

Pace (30-26, 18-12) was tabbed fourth while Southern Connecticut (19-30, 15-15) and Stonehill (21-24, 13-17) followed.

“I think it’s right where we thought we’d be,” said UML Head Coach Ken Harring, entering his eighth season, and fourth at UML. “When you lose 12 seniors and you’re picked third in the conference, it’s a compliment to be picked that high by the other coaches because they know the type of team we put out on the field.”

The River Hawks also received high billing on Monday, placing No. 4 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Northeast Region Preseason Poll.

UML, which finished second in the Conference with a 25-5 clip last year, returns 19 players from the 2007 squad while graduating 11 players, including seven pitchers.

The River Hawks return five field players, led by senior CF Tim Manton (Swansea, MA) and junior 1B Tim Keene (Berlin, NH). Manton batted .332 with a team-high 74 hits along with 46 runs, 26 RBI and 22 stolen bases while Keene batted .325 with 20 runs.

Also back is senior 2B Anthony Santos (Chelmsford, MA), who batted .270 with 37 RBI, and will anchor a young infield.

UML will virtually field a new pitching staff, led by sophomores Ted Haley (Cranston, RI) and Dan White (Southboro, MA). Haley went 2-0 last season with a 2.84 ERA in 12-plus innings in relief while White was 3-1 in seven appearances (24.1 innings) and five starts.

“We’ve done our best to address the needs we have,” Harring added. “We just have to live up to the expectations of the conference, which I am confident we can do.”

The River Hawks are slated to open the season Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 1-2, at West Chester University. UML ventures to Florida on Mar. 14, and opens at home on Mar. 24 against Assumption.