Air Force Academy

Feb. 10, 2009

USAF Academy, Colo. - Air Force junior designated hitter Matt Alexander was named to the 2009 Mountain West Conference Preseason All-Conference Team. In addition, the MWC preseason poll was released with the Falcons picked to finish in seventh place.

Alexander batted .306 last year as a sophomore, leading the Falcons with seven home runs. He was second on the team with 45 RBIs and a .529 slugging percentage. In one of the best single-game performances in school history, Alexander went 6-for-7 in a game last year against Doane College. In that game, Alexander hit for the cycle, hit two triples and drove in 11 runs. The 11 RBIs and 14 total bases are conference records.

Air Force picked up 14 votes in the preseason poll, taking seventh. Defending Two-time defending MWC champion TCU was again picked to win the conference. The Horned Frogs were trailed by San Diego State, New Mexico, BYU, Utah and UNLV.

2009 MWC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Catcher - Rafael Neda, So., New Mexico
First Base - Kevin Atkinson, Sr., New Mexico
Second Base - Ben Carruthers, Sr., TCU
Second Base - Mike Brownstein, Sr., New Mexico
Third Base - Matt Carpenter, Sr., TCU
Shortstop - Michael Beltran, So., Utah
Outfield - Sean McNaughton, Jr., BYU
Outfield - Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Sr., New Mexico
Outfield - Chris Ellington, Sr., TCU
Pitcher - Stephen Strasburg, Jr., San Diego State
Pitcher - Tyler Lockwood, Jr., TCU
Utility/Designated Hitter - Matt Alexander, Jr., Air Force
Utility/Designated Hitter - Jesse Wight, Sr., UNLV

2009 MWC PRESEASON POLL
1. TCU - 75 points (9 first-place votes)
2. San Diego State - 56 points (1 first-place vote)
3. New Mexico - 52 points (1 first-place vote)
4. BYU - 47 points
5. Utah - 31 points
6. UNLV - 30 points
7. Air Force - 14 points