SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University was ranked fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II Atlantic Regional preseason poll released Monday.

Veteran head coach Jeff Messer's squad also received votes in the NCBWA national preseason poll.

The Rock was ranked 25th in the Ping!Baseball Division II preseason national poll and 38th in the American Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll.

The first ABCA regular-season national poll will be released next Monday, Feb. 8, while the first NCBWA regular-season poll will be released March 1.

SRU returns five everyday starters and two of its top pitchers from a 2009 squad that compiled a 36-15 overall record and finished third in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division competition.

Headlining the list of returning players are NCBWA Preseason All-America selections Vince Lloyd (senior pitcher), Billy Messer (senior second baseman) and Jacob Oswalt (senior outfielder/designated hitter).

The Rock is scheduled to open its 2010 season Feb. 20 with a 12-noon non-conference doubleheader vs. Tiffin (Ohio) University at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.

SRU's home opener is scheduled for March 16, when Washington Adventist (formerly Columbia Union College) will invade Jack Critchfield Park for a 1 p.m. non-conference doubleheader.

Click here to view the NCBWA preseason polls

Click here to view the 2010 Rock baseball schedule