LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland University’s baseball team was a unanimous pick to win the TranSouth Conference in a poll of league coaches released last week in conjunction with the announcement of the 2011 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The Bulldogs have won the TranSouth Conference regular season title in each of the last two seasons, including last year’s 17-2 league record. Under longtime head coach Woody Hunt, Cumberland has claimed 18 regular season conference titles in 27 seasons as well as 10 conference tournament championships in the last 13 years.

The Bulldogs were picked No. 1 nationally in the Baseball Coaches' Preseason Top 25. The defending national champions return three position players and seven pitchers from last year’s 58-9 club. Cumberland received eight first-place votes from the coaches and 80 total points, while Union University garnered the other first-place vote and 73 total points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

No. School – Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Cumberland Univ. – 80 (8)
2. Union Univ. – 73 (1)
3. Trevecca Nazarene – 52
4. Bethel Univ. – 45
t5. Freed-Hardeman – 43
t5. Martin Methodist – 43
7. Lyon College – 42
8. Mid-Continent – 17
9. Blue Mountain – 10