FREELAND, Mich.-- The Trine baseball team has been picked to finish fifth in the MIAA in the conference's preseason poll, released Thursday.

The Thunder received votes totaling 30 points in the poll. Points are tabulated based off votes cast by the conference's coaches, who cannot vote for their own team. Trine placed fifth in the MIAA last season and finished the year with an overall record of 18-22. The team returns an all-conference performer and five starters, including its entire starting outfield.

Headlining the returners is All-MIAA Second Team pitcher Andy Farrell (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent St. Mary). The junior tossed two shutouts last season, both of which came in conference play. The lefty finished his sophomore campaign 4-4 with a 4.55 ERA.

Jacob Thoma (Granger, Ind./Penn), Shaun Seigneur (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing), Vinny Slobodecki (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) and Brandon Mylcraine (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) will compete for starting assignments on the mound. Jake Weimer (Pittsboro, Ind./Brownsburg) anchors the back end of the bullpen with seven career saves to his credit.

Trine returns its starting outfield of Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wis./Hartford Union), Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) and Zach Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage). Palmer led the team with a .500 slugging percentage and knocked in 26 runs last year, while Shackle finished second in the MIAA with a school-record five triples. Thorn slugged .453 while walking more than twice as many times as he struck out.

The infield will feature two new starters on the right side of the diamond, but the team returns shortstop Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) and third baseman JJ LaBounty (Avon, Ind./Covenant Christian) on the left side. Kendall batted .328 last year, while LaBounty batted .306 and showed off a solid glove at the hot corner.

The Thunder open the season with its traditional spring-break trip to the Central Florida RussMatt Invitational. Trine will face Mount St. Joseph Sunday, Mar. 6 at 2:45 p.m. in the season-opener. For the complete schedule CLICK HERE.

The complete results of the preseason poll are listed below.