CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2017) - With the season nearly two weeks away, the LIU Post baseball team was pegged fourth in the 2017 East Coast Conference Preseason Poll, announced Tuesday.

The Pioneers received 17 points in the vote, ahead of Queens (11) and Mercy (8), while St. Thomas Aquinas (34), Molloy (29) and Bridgeport (27) claimed the top three slots.

The green and gold look to build upon a 2016 season in which they posted their first winning season since 2012, boasting a 23-20 record with a 13-11 mark in ECC play.

The Pioneers return four of their five All-East Coast Conference selections from a year ago, led by first-team outfielder Rob Andreoli (North Wantagh, N.Y.).

Andreoli had the league's sixth-highest batting average (.337) in 2016, to go along with one home run and 27 RBIs. He also recorded 55 hits (10 doubles) and scored 31 runs, while swiping 20 bases.

Head Coach Mike Gaffney and his LIU Post squad open the 2017 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Limestone Classic in a doubleheader against Gannon University. First pitch is set for noon.

2017 ECC Baseball Preseason Poll
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Four First-Place Votes) - 34 Points
2. Molloy (One First-Place Vote) - 29 Points
3. Bridgeport (One First-Place Vote) - 27 Points
4. LIU Post - 17 Points
5. Queens - 11 Points
6. Mercy - 8 Points