The UMSL Tritons went 21-29 last season and will begin the 2024 season on Friday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Great Lakes Valley Conference has unveiled its 2024 Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll with the University of Missouri-St. Louis being tabbed eighth.

Quincy, the defending GLVC Champion, was tabbed as the favorite to win the league, garnering 169 points and nine of the 14 first-place votes, followed by Maryville in second with 151 points and three first-place votes. Indianapolis picked up the final two first-place marker and 145 points to sit in third in the poll. Drury earned 130 points and is fourth followed by Illinois Springfield in fifth with 118 points.

Lewis (114) has been picked to finish sixth, while William Jewell (97), UMSL (84), Missouri S&T (83) and McKendree (56) are seventh-10th respectively. Truman State (47), Rockhurst (39), Southwest Baptist (26) and Upper Iowa (22) round out the poll.

The Tritons went 21-29, 14-18 GLVC in 2023 and included a walk-off win over GLVC champion Quincy. Among its returners are juniors Andrew Buescher and Braedon Stoakes. Buescher led the team with a .361 batting average, six home runs and 12 doubles. Stoakes hit .286 and lead the team with 42 runs scored and was 29-for-34 in stolen bases.

UMSL opens its 2024 season this Friday and Saturday in Livingston, Ala., where the Tritons will take on West Alabama in a four-game series. The Tritons open their schedule on Friday, March 1 against Saginaw Valley State at 1 p.m. The GLVC slate begins at home March 8-10 against Drury.

The conference will host the 2024 GLVC Championship Tournament on May 8-11 at Mtn. Dew Park in Marion, Ill.

UMSL sports information provided this story.

2024 GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll