Dec. 22, 2004

WACO, Texas -

Baylor baseball earned a ranking of 25th nationally in the preseason Collegiate Baseball Poll, announced Wednesday by the publication. This marks the eighth consecutive year the Bears start a season ranked nationally.

Senior Michael Griffin was named third-team preseason All-America by the publication. Griffin, the NCAA's active leader in career games played (295), at bats (1,114) and hits (418), moves to second base this season after starting all 60 games at third base in 2004.

Baylor (29-31 in 2004) is one of five Big 12 Conference schools in the preseason poll. Defending Big 12 regular season champion Texas (58-15) earned the nation's top spot, Texas A&M (42-22) is 10th, 2004 Big 12 Tournament champion Oklahoma State (38-24) in 23rd, and Nebraska (36-23) is 31st.

The Bears, who return eight of nine starters and 10 pitchers, play 26 games this season against 10 teams ranked in the preseason poll, including 14 games against five teams in the top 15. Along with the four Big 12 opponents, Baylor faces No. 11 Arizona State, No. 14 Long Beach State, No. 15 Rice, No. 37 TCU, No. 38 Vanderbilt and No. 40 Tennessee.

Griffin, a product of Cedar Hill High School in Dallas, Texas, earns preseason All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball for the second consecutive season. As a junior in 2004, Griffin hit .291 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI and 17 stolen bases en route to honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. Griffin was even more potent in conference play, hitting .307 with nine home runs (tied for the conference lead) and 25 RBI.

For a complete listing of the Baseball America Preseason Top 40 and All-America teams, visit www.baseballnews.com.

Baylor opens its 2005 season Feb. 11-13 at the Astros Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston. The Bears face Houston (3:30 p.m. CST, Feb. 11), No. 40 Tennessee (3:30 p.m., Feb. 12) and No. 15 Rice (2:30 p.m., Feb. 13).