(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) — The three-time defending MIAA champion Mules baseball team was the unanimous No. 1 pick in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll released on Wednesday.

The Mules received all possible 14 first-place votes to earn the top spot with 196 points.

UCM was 48-9 a year ago and captured the MIAA title, the 23rd in school history, with a 34-4 conference mark. The Mules went on to win the MIAA tournament crown and host the South Central Regional.

UCM is ranked No. 4 in the 2013 ABCA preseason poll.

Missouri Western was ranked second, tallying 175 points. Emporia State was third with 160 points followed by Central Oklahoma, 152 points, and Fort Hays State, 136 points, rounding out the top five.

The Mules open the season Feb. 1 against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, as part of the Astros in Action D-II Invitational.

UCM will play four games in four days in Houston.