Right-hander Nick MacDonald was selected to the 2018 preseason All-Conference USA team as Conference USA announced its 2018 preseason baseball awards, as chosen by the league's 12 head coaches. FIU was tabbed to finish fifth in the preseason ballot.

MacDonald, entering his sophomore year, led the Panthers with seven wins last season compiling a 7-3 record with a 4.29 ERA.

MacDonald pitched 71 1/3 innings over 15 appearances, 13 starts. He allowed 67 hits, 34 earned runs, 30 walks and struck out 68, which was second on the team to Robert Garcia, who punched out 81.

MacDonald allowed three runs or less in nine of his 13 starts. He was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

The Panthers finished 31-27 overall last season and 15-15 in C-USA play, which tied FIU with UTSA for seventh place.

Southern Miss sophomore outfielder/pitcher Matt Wallner was chosen as the preseason Player of the Year, while Golden Eagles junior right-hander Nick Sandlin was named the preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Southern Miss was chosen as the favorite to win the league's championship. The Golden Eagles won the C-USA regular season title last season and the tournament championship in 2016. Rice, the defending C-USA champion, was picked to finish second in the preseason poll.

FIU opens the 2018 season at home, Feb. 16, against Missouri in a three-game series at the FIU ballpark.

2018 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1.            Southern Miss (11)              
2.            Rice (1)
3.            Florida Atlantic
4.            Old Dominion
5.            FIU
6.            Charlotte
7.            Louisiana Tech
8.            UTSA
9.            Middle Tennessee
10.          Marshall
11.          UAB
12.          WKU
(first place votes in parentheses)
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Wallner, Southern Miss (Sophomore, OF/P)
 
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Nick Sandlin, Southern Miss (Junior, RHP)
 
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P                Matt Canterino                             So.           Rice
P                Nick MacDonald                          So.           FIU
P                Jake Miednik                               Sr.            Florida Atlantic
RP             Nick Sandlin                                Jr.             Southern Miss
C                Dominic DiCaprio                         Jr.             Rice
IF               Bryan Arias                                  Jr.             UTSA
IF               Tyler Frank                                  Jr.             Florida Atlantic
IF               Ford Proctor                                Jr.             Rice
IF               Vinny Pasquantino                       So.           Old Dominion
OF             Kyle Battle                                  So.           Old Dominion
OF             Mason Irby                                  Sr.            Southern Miss
OF             David Miranda                             Sr.            Florida Atlantic
OF             Matt Wallner                                So.           Southern Miss
DH/UT        Aaron Aucker                               Sr.            Middle Tennessee