ST. LOUIS, MO. ? The Indiana State University baseball team has been picked to finish in a tie with Bradley for seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, according to a vote of the league coaches released today by the MVC.

Sycamore sophomore second baseman Ryan Strausborger was also a pre-season selection at All-Conference.

Wichita State was picked by eight of the league coaches to finish first this season with Creighton receiving the other first place vote. Overall, Wichita State had 73 points, Creighton 68 and Southern Illinois third with 64 points.

There is a big drop off to the teams chosen fourth through seventh with Missouri State getting 44 points and picked fourth, Northern Iowa fifth with 38 points, Evansville sixth with 37, and Indiana State and Bradley tied for seventh with 31 points. Illinois State is at the bottom of the pre-season selection with 19 points.

Indiana State began practice for the 2008 season this past weekend but has only been able to have one outdoor practice so far, and that was at Memorial Stadium.

“We are getting a little cabin fever,” Lindsay Meggs, Indiana State baseball coach said. “We are anxious to get outside.”

The Sycamores open their 2008 season on Feb. 22 when they begin a three-game set at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL.