KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Following a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, college baseball is back in full swing as the Mid-American Conference released its 2021 Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
The Western Michigan baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the MAC with 63 points, ahead of Ohio, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green and Akron. Central Michigan is favored to win the conference with 111 points while Kent State received the most first-place votes (5).
Prior to the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19 the Broncos had an overall record of 9-6 with signature victories over Southern California, Northeastern, Army and St. Bonaventure. The Broncos begin the 2021 campaign on the road for a three-game series, Feb. 26-28 at Kansas State.
Western Michigan returns a potent offense from a year ago, ranking 12
th in the NCAA last season at 8.6 runs per game. The Broncos also ranked 15
th in the nation in stolen bases (35) and 24
th in runs scored (129).
Leading the offense for WMU in 2021 is junior outfielder
Blake Dunn who was named the MAC Preseason Player of the Year by
D1Baseball while also being named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List. Dunn last year led the Broncos in home runs (2), RBIs (17) and stolen bases (11).
On the mound the Broncos are led by sophomore RHP
Easton Sikorski who in four starts last year registered a 3-1 record with a 2.13 ERA. In 25.1 innings pitched Sikorski gave up just six earned runs and collected a team-high 20 strikeouts. Sikorski earned his first career victory in an 8-5 win over Southern California. Sikorski became the first Bronco pitcher to defeat a PAC-12 school since 1989.
Below is the 2021 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll:
2021 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll (first-place votes)
1.) Central Michigan – 111 points (4)
2.) Kent State – 110 points (5)
T3.) Miami – 96 points (1)
T3.) Ball State – 96 points
5.) Northern Illinois – 72 points
6.) Western Michigan – 63 points
7.) Ohio – 56 points
8.) Toledo – 45 points
9.) Eastern Michigan – 36 points
10.) Bowling Green – 28 points
11.) Akron – 13 points
