The Bulldogs open the season ranked No. 23 according to the PerfectGame.org Preseason Rankings and among the teams receiving votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll ... UMD returns NSIC Preseason Player of the Year senior first baseman
Alex Wojciechowski and fellow preseason All-American senior second baseman
Jimmy Heck, NSIC All-Tournament Team selection senior left-hander
Bo Hellquist, and ABCA All-Central Region honoree
Grant Farley ... among newcomers, the Bulldogs add two transfers in junior catcher
Dominic DeFeo and sophomore outfielder
Brett Milazzo ... the younger brother of Alex,
Tyler Wojciechowski highlights the freshman class as a right-handed pitcher and third baseman alongside local products
Eric Yachinich, a shortstop from Ashland, Wisconsin,
Ryan Cunningham, a left-handed pitcher from Britt, Minnesota, and
Kole Zuidmulder, a right-handed pitcher and first baseman from Hermantown, Minnesota ... UMD has nine in-region contests on the non-conference schedule, and will knock out four this weekend. The Bulldogs, ranked fourth in the NSIC Preseason Poll, will need to get off to a good start as they hope to earn a trip to the NCAA II Central Region Tournament.
RANKINGS| Poll | UMD | PSU |
| NCBWA National Top 25 (Feb. 16) | -- | -- |
| CBN National Top 30 (Feb. 15) | -- | -- |
| PerfectGame Division II Preview (Jan. 28) | 23 | -- |
| NCBWA Regional Top 10 (Feb. 16) | RV | -- |
WEATHER EYEFriday: Sunny ... High 72, Low 46 ... Winds: W 9 mph
Saturday: Mostly Cloudy ... High 71, Low 52 ... Winds: S 9 mph ... Precipitation: 20%
Sunday: Partly Cloudy ... High 64, Low 38 ... Winds NNE 12 mph ... Precipitation: 20%
HOW TO FOLLOWLive Stats (all games)
WHAT'S FIRST?UMD opens the season Friday afternoon in Pittsburg, Kansas. First pitch between UMD and Pitt State is set for 3:00 p.m.
