TUCSON, Ariz. – The Northwest baseball program, under 10th-year head coach Mark Carson, will open the 2015 season ranked No. 20 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the organization announced Tuesday.

It marks the Rangers' first preseason ranking by the newspaper since the 2008 season (6th).   

Last year's national runner-up, Hinds, is ranked No. 2 and East Mississippi is 18th. 

Northwest is coming off a 30-16 record a year ago which included wins over No. 5 East Mississippi, No. 7 Jones County, No. 8 North Iowa, No. 16 Mississippi Delta and No. 19 Northeast. The Rangers have won 30 or more games in three of the last four seasons.

The Rangers open the 2015 season on Monday, Feb. 9 at Southwest Tennessee. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1:30 p.m. at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. 

The full NJCAA Division II CBN Preseason Poll can be found by clicking [here].