RICHARDSON, Texas (Jan. 20, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian finished ninth in the Lone Star Conference's preseason baseball poll, released Wednesday.

League coaches, sports information directors and selected media vote in the poll. Angelo State (Texas) topped the poll, receiving 23 of a possible 34 first-place votes and 428 points. Texas-Tyler was second with six first-place votes and 396 points, just ahead of West Texas A&M, with four first-place votes and 392 points.

Texas A&M-Kingsville received the remaining first-place vote and 300 points to land in fourth, followed by St. Mary's (Texas) with 275 points, Arkansas-Fort Smith with 274 points, St. Edward's (Texas) with 272 points, Lubbock Christian (Texas) with 212 points, OC with 171 points and Texas-Permian Basin with 143 points.

Cameron (115 points), Texas A&M International (74) and Eastern New Mexico (42) rounded out the poll.

OC had a 9-13 record last season when the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly ended the season, but by that point, coach Lonny Cobble's Eagles already had completed series against four of the top six teams in this year's preseason poll – Angelo State, Texas-Tyler, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Arkansas-Fort Smith, as well as against Tarleton State, which now competes in NCAA Division I.

OC had just won three of four games against UAFS when the season ended and earlier had split a road series at Tarleton State, in addition to winning a road series at Texas A&M International.

The Eagles have one of the league's top pitchers returning this season in senior left-hander Gabe Rodery, an All-South Central Region selection in 2019. OC is scheduled to open its season Feb. 5 at home against St. Mary's.