UTRGV Baseball places three on Preseason All-WAC Team

Vaqueros Picked to Finish Tied for Fourth in the WAC

Texas Border Business

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced on Wednesday that senior catcher Conrado Diaz, senior outfielder Coleman Grubbs, and senior infielder Christian Sepulveda of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) baseball team are part of the Preseason All-WAC Team as voted on by the head coaches.

Additionally, defending WAC Champion UTRGV earned two first place votes in the coaches poll while getting picked to finish tied for fourth with California Baptist in the 10-team WAC. UTRGV was picked tied for fifth with California Baptist last year before the two teams finish tied for first along with New Mexico State.

Last season, Diaz ranked as the 13^th toughest hitter to strikeout in the NCAA at just once every 13.8 at-bats. Overall, he hit .319 with a .434 on-base percentage, 11 doubles, one home run, 31 RBI and 33 runs scored. Diaz recorded 17 multi-hit games, including four of three hits and one of five hits, as well as seven multi-RBI games, including two of three RBI and one of four RBI.

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Grubbs is coming off of a season in which he hit .269 with four home runs, 28 RBI and 42 runs scored. He recorded 16 multi-hit games, including four games of three hits and one of four, and five multi-RBI games. Grubbs earned the National Academic Momentum Award and ranked sixth in runs scored (29) during WAC play.

Last season, Sepulveda bashed nine home runs with 11 doubles, 40 RBI and 44 runs scored while hitting .274 with a .381 on-base percentage. He posted 13 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games, three of which included three RBI and one of which included four RBI. Sepulveda earned All-WAC Second Team Shortstop honors by ranking fourth in the WAC in home runs (7), seventh in RBI (28) and total bases (62), ninth in runs scored (26), and 10^th in slugging percentage (.579) during WAC play.

UTRGV and California Baptist earned 55 points each in the poll, 16 points ahead of CSU Bakersfield.

Grand Canyon was picked to win the WAC, earning two first place votes and six second place votes for 73 points. Sacramento State got four first place votes to finish second with 71 points. New Mexico State earned two first place votes while finishing third with 66 points.

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Seattle U was picked seventh with 35 points. Utah Valley was picked eight with 29 points. Northern Colorado was picked ninth with 18 points. Chicago State was picked last with nine points.

The top six teams, not including California Baptist, which will not be postseason eligible until the 2023 season, advance to the WAC Tournament May 20-24 in Mesa, Ariz.

The 2020 season opens with a four-game home series against Kansas State starting on Feb.14 at 7 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Season, group and individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com or by contacting the Carlos Munoz (956-665-3747) and Tiffany Ochoa (956-665-3415) over the phone or through email at tickets@utrgv.edu.

UTRGV opens WAC play March 20-22 at Seattle U. The first home WAC series is March 27-29 against Grand Canyon.

2020 Preseason WAC Coaches Poll

2020 Preseason All-WAC Team
Catcher: Conrado Diaz, Sr., UTRGV
First Base: Tristian Peterson, Sr., NM State
Second Base: Nick Gonzales, Jr., NM State
Third Base: Tyler Jorgensen, Sr., CSU Bakersfield
Third Base: Mick Madsen, So., Utah Valley
Shortstop: Christian Sepulveda, Sr., UTRGV
Outfield: Chad Castillo, So., California Baptist
Outfield: Coleman Grubbs, Sr., UTRGV
Outfield: Matt Smith, Sr., Sacramento State
Starting Pitcher: Kade Mechals, Sr., Grand Canyon
Starting Pitcher: Pierson Ohl, So., Grand Canyon
Starting Pitcher: Scott Randall, Jr., Sacramento State
Relief Pitcher: Frankie Scalzo, Jr., Grand Canyon 
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Gonzales, Jr., NM State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kade Mechals, Sr., Grand Canyon

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