Photo by: Braden Villanueva
CSUN Picked Seventh in Big West Preseason Coaches Poll
2/14/2022 11:17:00 AM | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball was picked to finish seventh in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday, as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches.
The Matadors received 50 points in the poll as they were edged by Hawai'i for sixth place at 51 points. Long Beach State was picked to win the league, receiving seven first-place votes and 97 total points. UC Irvine, last season's Big West champion, was second with three first-place votes and 92 points followed by UC Santa Barbara in third with one first-place vote and 81 points, Cal Poly in fourth with 75 points and Cal State Fullerton in fifth with 58 points. Below CSUN, CSU Bakersfield placed in eighth (35 points), UC San Diego in ninth (33 points), UC Riverside in 10th (22 points) and UC Davis in 11th place (11 points).
After being picked to finish sixth in last season's preseason coaches poll, the Matadors rode a strong finish to the season to finish tied for fourth in the Big West Conference with a 21-19 record. CSUN won 15 of its final 21 games, posting a winning record in conference play for the fourth time since joining the Big West in 2001, and for the first time since 2018.
A total of 17 letterwinners return from the 2021 squad, which include three starters in the everyday lineup and three weekend starting pitchers.
Kai Moody returns to the Matadors as a fifth-year senior as he looks to build upon a stellar 2021 campaign. Moody received All-Big West First Team honors after hitting a conference-leading .393 with 55 hits, 34 runs and 25 RBI. Another key returner, junior infielder Mason Le batted .277 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 27 games last season while senior Brandon Bohning produced 14 runs, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases to go with a .237 average while managing the shortstop position.
On the pitching side, the Matadors have returned eight hurlers on the mound led by senior right-handed pitcher Blaine Traxel, who earned All-Big West Second Team honors last season. Traxel was perhaps the most versatile pitcher in the Big West in 2021 as he appeared in 19 games, making 10 starts. He had a 5-1 record, 3.78 ERA, 68 strikeouts and three saves. Another senior right hander, Blake Sodersten has served as the Friday starter the past two seasons and most recently posted a 3-2 record with a 4.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, Blake Schriever has returned for his sixth season with the Matadors as the right hander has registered a 3.97 ERA and 15 saves over his career.
While many have returned, CSUN will lean on an array of talented new players this season. CSUN boasts 19 newcomers to the team including nine true freshmen, eight junior college transfers and two Division I transfers.
CSUN opens the 2022 season on the road at UCLA in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
2022 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll Results (first-place votes)
#UniteTheValley
The Matadors received 50 points in the poll as they were edged by Hawai'i for sixth place at 51 points. Long Beach State was picked to win the league, receiving seven first-place votes and 97 total points. UC Irvine, last season's Big West champion, was second with three first-place votes and 92 points followed by UC Santa Barbara in third with one first-place vote and 81 points, Cal Poly in fourth with 75 points and Cal State Fullerton in fifth with 58 points. Below CSUN, CSU Bakersfield placed in eighth (35 points), UC San Diego in ninth (33 points), UC Riverside in 10th (22 points) and UC Davis in 11th place (11 points).
After being picked to finish sixth in last season's preseason coaches poll, the Matadors rode a strong finish to the season to finish tied for fourth in the Big West Conference with a 21-19 record. CSUN won 15 of its final 21 games, posting a winning record in conference play for the fourth time since joining the Big West in 2001, and for the first time since 2018.
A total of 17 letterwinners return from the 2021 squad, which include three starters in the everyday lineup and three weekend starting pitchers.
Kai Moody returns to the Matadors as a fifth-year senior as he looks to build upon a stellar 2021 campaign. Moody received All-Big West First Team honors after hitting a conference-leading .393 with 55 hits, 34 runs and 25 RBI. Another key returner, junior infielder Mason Le batted .277 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 27 games last season while senior Brandon Bohning produced 14 runs, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases to go with a .237 average while managing the shortstop position.
On the pitching side, the Matadors have returned eight hurlers on the mound led by senior right-handed pitcher Blaine Traxel, who earned All-Big West Second Team honors last season. Traxel was perhaps the most versatile pitcher in the Big West in 2021 as he appeared in 19 games, making 10 starts. He had a 5-1 record, 3.78 ERA, 68 strikeouts and three saves. Another senior right hander, Blake Sodersten has served as the Friday starter the past two seasons and most recently posted a 3-2 record with a 4.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, Blake Schriever has returned for his sixth season with the Matadors as the right hander has registered a 3.97 ERA and 15 saves over his career.
While many have returned, CSUN will lean on an array of talented new players this season. CSUN boasts 19 newcomers to the team including nine true freshmen, eight junior college transfers and two Division I transfers.
CSUN opens the 2022 season on the road at UCLA in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
2022 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll Results (first-place votes)
| 1. | Long Beach State (7) | 97 points |
| 2. | UC Irvine (3) | 92 points |
| 3. | UC Santa Barbara (1) | 81 points |
| 4. | Cal Poly | 75 points |
| 5. | Cal State Fullerton | 58 points |
| 6. | Hawai'i | 51 points |
| 7. | CSUN | 50 points |
| 8. | CSU Bakersfield | 35 points |
| 9. | UC San Diego | 33 points |
| 10. | UC Riverside | 22 points |
| 11. | UC Davis | 11 points |
#UniteTheValley
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