Coaches rank Arkansas No. 1

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS --03/09/2012-- University of Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek fires a pitch in the third inning of a game at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas' baseball team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA Today/Coaches' poll, released Thursday.

The No. 1 ranking is the second for the Razorbacks this preseason after also taking the top spot in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. Arkansas was ranked No. 3 by Baseball America in its preseason poll, behind North Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Razorbacks in the Rankings

No. 1 - USA Today/Coaches, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper

No. 2 - Perfect Game USA

No. 3 - Baseball America

In the coaches' poll, the Razorbacks lead eight Southeastern Conference teams ranked. Three other teams - LSU (3), South Carolina (5) and Vanderbilt (8) - are ranked in the top 10, while Florida (13), Kentucky (15), Mississippi State (18) and Texas A&M (24) also made the list.

Arkansas finished the 2012 season with a 46-22 overall record and a trip to the College World Series. The Razorbacks return 10 pitchers and seven position players who logged significant playing time last year.

Preseason practice for Arkansas begins Friday at 2 p.m. at Baum Stadium. The Razorbacks open the season with the first of a three-game series against Western Illinois on Feb. 15.