Newport News, Va. – (February 12, 2019) – The Atlantic 10 Conference released its preseason baseball coaches poll this afternoon with Fordham being picked fourth out of 13 teams in a vote of the league's head coaches.
 
Fordham was one of four teams to receive a first place vote in the poll, along with Saint Louis (9), VCU (2), and Davidson (1).
 
Saint Louis is the preseason favorite, followed by VCU, Davidson, Fordham, George Mason, Richmond, Rhode Island, George Washington, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, St. Bonaventure, La Salle, and Massachusetts.  All 13 teams will vie for a spot in the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship, which will be at Fordham's Houlihan Park, May 22-25.
 
Fordham is coming off a 35-win season, which tied for the second most in the modern day history of the program (post-1900), behind only the 36-win seasons in 1988 and 1990.  The Rams also posted 16 Atlantic 10 wins in 2018, which tied for the third most since joining the conference, only behind the 19 victories in 2007 and the 17 in 2005.
 
The Rams return the majority of its lineup in 2019, which includes eight starters, and most of a pitching staff that broke the team's strikeout record for the fourth consecutive year (536), while having the lowest team ERA in over three decades (3.36).

 
Fordham opens its 2019 season on Friday, February 15^th, at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
 
2019 Atlantic 10 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
 
Rank – Team (First Place Votes)
1. Saint Louis (9)
2. VCU (2)
3. Davidson (1)
4. Fordham (1)
5. George Mason
6. Richmond
7. Rhode Island
8. George Washington
9. Dayton
10. Saint Joseph's
11. St. Bonaventure
12. La Salle
13. Massachusetts