Dec. 22, 2008

TUSCON, Ariz. - North Carolina, which has reached the College World Series in each of the last three seasons, claimed the No. 2 spot in Collegiate Baseball newspaper's Fabulous 40 preseason Division I baseball poll Monday.

The Tar Heels, who were 54-14 and finished No. 3 in the national rankings a year ago, fell just one point shy of preseason No. 1 LSU. Carolina received 494 points, while the Tigers garnered 495.

UNC was the first of five Atlantic Coast Conference squads in the rankings and was joined by Florida State (No. 7), Georgia Tech (No. 12), Miami (No. 18) and Clemson (No. 26).

In first baseman/outfielder Dustin Ackley, infielder Kyle Seager and right-hander Alex White, Carolina returns multiple All-America selections for the first time in school history.

Ackley, White and right-hander Matt Harvey were honored as NCBWA preseason All-America picks last week.

The Tar Heels open the 2009 season against VMI Feb. 20.