While it may not feel like it, baseball season is fast approaching and as a result the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has released its annual preseason poll.

The University of Minnesota Duluth baseball squad has been predicted to finish the 2012 campaign in sixth place in the 14-team league. In the poll, the Bulldogs collected 86 points, just six more than Concordia-St. Paul for the sixth spot.

For the second year in a row, the Minnesota State Mavericks were selected to win the conference, gathering four first place votes. The top three teams in the conference poll were separated by just three points.

In 2011, the Bulldogs finished in sixth place with a 21-25 record that included a 16-15 mark in NSIC play.

The Bulldogs begin their season in a little over one month as they meet up with the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The doubleheader will get underway at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 23.

For the full poll, please visit this link.