BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri shortstop Tyler Wilber and pitcher Noah Niznik earned Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for the upcoming 2020 campaign. 

A native of Rossmoor, California, Wilber was named First-Team All-OVC at the conclusion of his first season with the Redhawks in 2019. He led the OVC in both batting average (.383) and on-base percentage (.480), while accumulating 80 hits, 19 doubles and 40 RBI. Wilber was named a 2020 Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American.

Niznik, who hails from St. Louis, sported a 3.63 ERA which ranked him fourth in the OVC in that category last season. He made 13 starts, pitched one complete game and tallied 49 strikeouts in 62 innings. Niznik also ranked among league leaders in opposing batting average (8th, .248), fewest hits allowed (4th, 59), fewest earned runs allowed (2nd, 25) and fewest walks allowed (4th, 17).

SEMO, which begins its fourth year under head coach Andy Sawyers, was picked seventh in this year's OVC Predicted Order of Finish. The Redhawks tallied 94 points in the overall voting by OVC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.

Jacksonville State is this year's preseason-favorite after receiving 19 of 21 first-place votes. Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay, Belmont, Morehead State and Murray State were also picked ahead of SEMO. Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and SIU Edwardsville completed this year's poll.

EKU senior Nick Howie was selected as the OVC Preseason Player of the Year and Belmont sophomore Joshua South was tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The Redhawks open their 2020 season with a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe on Feb. 14-16. 
 
2020 OVC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by OVC Head Baseball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)   

1. Jacksonville State (19 first-place votes)  - 199
2. Eastern Kentucky (2) - 154
3. Austin Peay - 153
4. Belmont - 136
5. Morehead State (1) - 135
6. Murray State - 114
7. Southeast Missouri - 94
8. Eastern Illinois - 79
9. Tennessee Tech - 54
10. UT Martin - 52
11. SIUE - 40

 
2020 Preseason All-OVC Baseball Team
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Howie (OF), Eastern Kentucky
Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year: Joshua South (RHP), Belmont
 
C A.J. Lewis, Eastern Kentucky
1B Jason Hinchman, Tennessee Tech*
2B Daniel Harris IV, Eastern Kentucky
SS Tyler Wilber, Southeast Missouri*
3B Christian Pena, Eastern Illinois*
OF Garrett Spain, Austin Peay**
OF Brock Anderson, Murray State**
OF Nick Howie, Eastern Kentucky*
DH John Dyer, Tennessee Tech*
DH Alex Webb, Jacksonville State*
UT Cole Frederick, Jacksonville State**
SP Kenny Serwa, SIUE**
SP Joshua South, Belmont
SP Isaiah Magwood, Jacksonville State
SP Jason Goe, Morehead State
SP Noah Niznik, Southeast Missouri
RP Nick Wohlbold, UT Martin**
 
* - 1st team All-OVC team in 2019
# - 2nd team All-OVC team in 2019