BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU was picked to finish tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in 2012 and two players were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team, announced Friday by the conference office.

Junior left-hander Tanner Perkins and sophomore right-hander Justin Hageman earned two of the three preseason starting pitching spots. The two selections to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team from WKU were the third most by any team in the league. FIU was tops with four selections.

Perkins was named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2011 after finishing his second season on the Hill with a 7-4 record and a league-best 2.32 ERA. He ranked among the top 10 in the league in innings pitched (99.0), strikeouts (75), wins (7) and opponent batting average (.243). Lefties hit just .218 against the left-hander while he limited right-handers to a .245 average. Perkins walked only 22 batters on the season. In his Sun Belt Conference starts, Perkins’ earned run average dropped to 2.13. He went 6-1 with seven walks and 43 strikeouts in his first seven starts of the season.

Hageman was named the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after finishing the season with an 8-5 record. He ranked among the top 10 in the league in ERA (3.22), wins (8), innings pitched (100.2), strikeouts (85) and opponent batting average (.256). Hageman went 6-2 in league games with 60 strikeouts and only 18 walks. Hageman threw his second complete game of the year against FAU, his eighth win of the year, on his way to becoming WKU’s winningest freshman pitcher.

In addition, league coaches predicted WKU to finish tied for fourth with Florida Atlantic in 2012, behind FIU and Troy, who each received four first-place votes, and third-place Louisiana-Lafayette.

The complete Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team and preseason coaches’ poll can be found below.

2012 Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll (first place votes) -- as voted on by the league's head coaches:

1. FIU (4) - 93 pts

1. Troy (4) - 93 pts

3. Louisiana-Lafayette (1) - 74 pts

4. Western Kentucky - 60 pts

4. Florida Atlantic - 60 pts

6. South Alabama - 56 pts

7. Arkansas State - 36 pts

8. Middle Tennessee - 31 pts

9. Louisiana-Monroe (1) - 26 pts

10. UALR - 21 pts

2012 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team- as voted on by the league's head coaches:

Tyler Ray (Troy, Senior, SP)
Justin Hageman (WKU, Sophomore, SP)
Tanner Perkins (WKU, Junior, SP)
Hugh Adams (Florida Atlantic, Senior, RP)
Mason McVay (FIU, RS-Junior, RP)
Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic, Senior, Catcher)
Mike Martinez (FIU, Senior, 1B)
Caleb Clowers (Louisiana-Monroe, Senior, 2B)
Logan Kirkland (South Alabama, Sophomore, 2B)
Tyler Hannah (Troy, Senior, SS)
Hank LaRue (Middle Tennessee, Sophomore, 3B)
Alex Hudak (Florida Atlantic, Senior, OF)
Pablo Bermudez (FIU, Senior, OF)
Justin Guidry (Middle Tennessee, Senior, OF)
Rudy Flores (FIU, Junior, DH)

2012 Preseason Player of the Year
Pablo Bermudez (FIU, Senior, OF)

2012 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Ray (Troy, Senior, SP)