ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop baseball team will face seven teams ranked in the preseason top 40 according to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, and also received votes in the preseason poll.

The seven ranked opponents the Eagles will compete against in 2012 are:  North Carolina (No. 4), Georgia Tech (No. 9), Arizona State (No. 17), Georgia (No. 18), Oregon State (No. 24), Clemson (No. 25) and College of Charleston (No. 32). Winthrop hosts both the Yellow Jackets and Cougars at The Winthrop Ballpark this season. Four other 2012 opponents (Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Kent State and Liberty) also received votes in the poll. The Eagles also received votes in the preseason poll, and were one of three teams from the Big South in that category.

Winthrop will open its 2012 campaign on Friday, February 17 at 6 p.m. against Georgia Tech in the Rock Hill Coca-Cola Classic. The Golden Flashes are also participating in the tournament with the Eagles and Yellow Jackets.