BURNSVILLE, Minn. --- Minnesota State baseball is ranked second in the 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by conference officials Thursday.

As was the case with every baseball program in the country, Minnesota State's season came to a halt in March with the 2020 season just underway. The Mavericks, a perennial NCAA Division II power, ended the year with an 8-5 mark. The good news coming out of last year is that 35 members of that team return for 2021 primed to challenge for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship and a run at the NCAA DII tournament.

Chief amongst the returnees is junior outfielder/righthanded pitcher Cam Kline.  A First Team All-American in 2019 when he fashioned a 10-2 record and a 2.47 ERA, Kline heads into 2021 owning a .348 batting average. Other pitching returnees include sophomore righthander Jack Zigan (career 11-4, 3.51 ERA), junior righthander Jimmy Larson (All-NSIC in 2019 with 6-4 record and 2.43 ERA), senior righthander Jon Ludwig (career 9-5, 2.78 ERA). Senior Teddy Petersen (NCBWA Honorable Mention All-America in 2019, career .319 with eight home runs and 74 RBI) and sophomore Nick Altermatt (.352 as a freshman in 2019, All-Region and NSIC Freshman of the Year) anchor the infield.
 

The Mavericks open up their 2021 campaign when they travel to the University of Missouri - St. Louis for a four-game series slated Feb. 26-28.

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